The government will set up a medical university in every division of the country by 2023-24 fiscal as it aims to develop a strong medical manpower and upgrade the medicare facilities in its mid-term planning, according to an official document here.

"As part of the government's plan to expand and develop medical education in the country, the government has taken steps to increase the number of medical universities, medical colleges and hospitals," said the document available with UNB.

It said that after the start of the academic programmes of Rajshahi, Chattagram and Sylhet Medical Universities, the establishment of Sheikh Hasina Medical University in Khulna is now on the way.

The document stated that as per election manifesto 2019, modernisation and expansion of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and establishment of Nephrology Unit and Kidney Dialysis Centre in all government medical college hospital and in all district sadar hospitals are underway.

Besides, establishment of Sheikh Sayera Khatun Medical College and Nursing Institute, establishment of Kusthia Medical College and Hospital and establishment of Sheikh Lutfar Rahman Dental College, Gopalganj is in progress.

"An integrated Medical Service Research and Development Fund had been created in 2020-21 fiscal to facilitate research activities under medical education and technology sector. Like the fiscal year, an amount of Tk 100 crore has been allocated to the fund in the running 2021-22 fiscal," the document mentioned.

It said that the main purpose of the government is to build a healthy, strong and active nation by providing affordable quality health, nutrition and family planning (HNP) services to them.

The document claimed that the government has made commendable progress in these aspects.

"With the increase of life expectancy, maternal mortality rate, neonatal mortality rate, under-5 mortality rate, malnutrition, underweight and low birth weight are continuously improving," it said.

Despite resource limitation, Bangladesh has shown remarkable success in achieving the MDGs related health issues. Bangladesh is also progressing well with achievement of SDGs by 2030.

Sector wise activities are being implemented for the period of 2017-22 under a total of 29 operational plans of the 4th Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Programme (4th HPASP).

Under the programme, skilled human resources will be developed, including nutrition and health services for mothers and children, control of infectious and non- communicable diseases and climate change, improved and efficient medicine sector and training of physicians.

Recruitment of doctors, nurses and other health workers and installation of necessary equipment are under way to make health services accessible to the people.

In the 2020-21 fiscal, new doctors have been recruited through the 38th BCS within a short span of time to ensure the care of COVID-19 patients. All these newly recruited doctors have joined various hospitals to provide COVID-19 related services.

In order to provide quick health services, a total of 10-post of junior consultant (special physician) are being created for the 50-bed health complexes.

Modern equipment such as ECG machine, nebuliser machine, autoclave, ultra-sonogram machine, blood collection monitor will be installed in the upazila health complexes.

It mentioned that medical treatment for the terminal disease of cancer is still inadequate in Bangladesh.

To facilitate the treatment of cancer patients the government is implementing a project for setting up full-fledged 100-bed cancer treatment unit at the government medical college hospitals in divisional towns.

Nutrition services are being implemented in all upazilas of the country under the National Nutrition Service (NNS) programme, as per the document.

Steps are taken to start providing 24- hour emergency maternity services in 96 Upazila Health Centres.

The government, the document stated, has plan to intensify the emergency maternity services in 132 upazilas.

As part of the plan to set up 14,890 community clinics across the country, constructions of 14,384 clinics have already been completed of which 13,881 are currently providing services.

Keeping the goal of achieving universal health care in the country by 2030 in view, the government has formulated the 'Strategy for Finance in the Health Sector: 2012-2032'.

In line with the strategy, the 'Shashtho Shurokkha Karmashuchi (SSK)' has been formulated to finance healthcare services for people living below the poverty line.

The pilot programme under the SSK has been initiated to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of the poor population and protect them from the catastrophic health expenditure in receiving hospital-based services.

While receiving inter- departmental services from hospitals, every family holding a card gets free treatment including costs of diagnosis and medicines.

In accordance with the National Strategic Plan 2016- 2021, steps have been taken on Autism and Neuro Developmental Disorders.

Educational measures have been taken to make people aware of autism and neuro developmental disorders.

At the same time, child development centres have been established in 33 hospitals through which patients with autism and neurodevelopmental disorders are being provided integrated treatment (combining child physicians, clinical psychologists and developmental therapists).