Speaking about healthcare for women, the minister said steps must be taken to ensure that mothers and women do not face embarrassment or harassment during pregnancy. To this end, plans are being made to turn health centres into one-stop service facilities.
TBS Report
15 October, 2026, 01:35 pm
Last modified: 15 October, 2026, 01:37 pm
Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain has stressed the need for swift implementation of the Health Protection Act and related measures, saying the government is reviewing laws from different countries and working to adapt relevant provisions for Bangladesh.
He also said the government is placing special emphasis on developing a health insurance system.
The minister made the remarks today (15 October) while speaking as the chief guest at a workshop titled "National Health Protection Authority in Bangladesh: Design and Structural Aspects" at the International Mother Language Institute in Dhaka.
The workshop was organised by the Health Economics Unit of the Health Services Division. Sakhawat said it was deeply distressing that ordinary people often had to spend large amounts of money out of their own pockets to meet healthcare costs, leaving many of them in financial hardship.
He said the government was giving primary healthcare the highest priority to bring health services closer to people. A broad plan has been drawn up to ensure healthcare for people across the country, he said.
However, as it would be difficult to implement all the plans at once, the government intends to set priorities and begin the initiatives gradually through pilot programmes.
Speaking about healthcare for women, the minister said steps must be taken to ensure that mothers and women do not face embarrassment or harassment during pregnancy. To this end, plans are being made to turn health centres into one-stop service facilities. These centres are also expected to offer screening and testing for breast cancer and cervical cancer using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
The government plans to gradually introduce these services at the upazila level at low cost, he said. The health minister also said everyone concerned must work with honesty, commitment and coordination to address longstanding irregularities and challenges in the health sector.
He said the government is committed to gradually expanding improved and quality healthcare services at every level of the country. Health Economics Unit Director General Dr Md Enamul Haque and officials from different divisions of the ministry were present at the workshop.