“We are working fast to establish eight cancer institutes in the eight divisions and expand radiotherapy services at district level to ensure cancer treatment at grassroots,” he said.
The minister made the remarks on Monday while speaking as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the Medical Physics Programme at BRAC University in Merul Badda, Dhaka.
The Mathematics and Physical Sciences (MPS) Department of BRAC University has introduced the two-year master’s programme for the first time in Bangladesh to address the country’s growing demand for medical physicists.
Speaking about the government’s commitment to expanding cancer care, Sakhawat said plans were underway to procure 17 linear accelerators to make cancer treatment accessible across the country.
“We are also going to bring five major robotic surgery machines for the first time,” he said.
The minister emphasised that early detection and public awareness were critical to the government’s cancer-control strategy, particularly for breast and cervical cancers. He said the government would intensify human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaigns and promote breast cancer self-screening and awareness among women.
“Without awareness, we cannot save people from cancer,” Sakhawat said, urging health professionals and educational institutions to help spread awareness at the grassroots level.
Criticising the previous ‘fascist regime’, the minister alleged that the ‘previous fascist government’ had damaged the country’s health sector, which he said had been affected by corruption and plundering.
He said the present government had taken substantial steps to develop the health sector since assuming office. According to Sakhawat, the implementation of the planned projects would bring a revolutionary change to the country’s healthcare system within the next two years.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, we are taking the healthcare services to village level,” the minister said.
He added that the government planned to establish Family Wellbeing Centres in every three wards of each union and transform existing community clinics into Health Wellbeing Centres.
“These centres will provide primary-level services, including blood analysis and breast cancer screening,” he said.
Sakhawat also announced plans to transform every upazila hospital into a 150-bed facility. He said the government would strengthen dialysis, physiotherapy, maternal care and newborn care services at upazila-level hospitals to reduce pressure on tertiary healthcare facilities.
The minister said the government would soon appoint 5,000 doctors. It is also working to increase the number of hospital beds and recruit around 41,390 health workers, including 25,000 midwives, to strengthen healthcare delivery.
Addressing the newly introduced Medical Physics Programme at BRAC University, Sakhawat assured the university of government cooperation in developing medical physics education and manpower. He said medical physicists would be recruited according to the requirements of the expanding cancer treatment facilities.
“Medical physics is a very important part of treatment. You do your best and improve yourselves. From the government side, we must extend our hand of cooperation to you,” the minister said.
He explained that medical physicists played a crucial role in radiotherapy because the accuracy of radiation dosage was essential to patient safety and treatment effectiveness.
“If the dose is wrong, the patient is gone. If the dose is wrong, the doctor’s credibility is gone,” he said, highlighting the need to develop an adequate workforce of trained medical physicists.
Sakhawat urged BRAC University students, teachers and researchers to contribute to strengthening medical physics education and cancer care in Bangladesh.
The event was attended by Professor Emeritus at Dhaka University Dr AFM Yusuf Haider, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Jalal Uddin Mohammad Rumi, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) Clinical Oncology Department Chairman Professor Dr Syed Md Akram Hussain, National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) Director Professor Dr Mostafa Aziz Sumon, and Project Director of Establishment of the Integrated Cancer, Kidney and Heart Treatment Centers across Bangladesh's Eight Divisional Cities Dr Md Toufiq Hasan Firoz. They spoke as special guests.
BRAC University Vice-Chancellor Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar chaired the programme. Mathematics and Physical Sciences Department Chairperson Professor Hasibun Naher and the university’s Registrar and Controller of Examinations, Dr David Dowland, delivered the welcome address.
Professor Dr Golam Abu Zakaria, former Director and Chief Medical Physicist at Gumunersbach University Hospital, University of Cologne, Germany, and Adviser and Coordinator of MPS at BRAC University, presented the keynote paper.
Medical Physics Programme Coordinator Professor Hasin Anupama Azhari presented an overview of the newly introduced programme.
The government’s plans to expand radiotherapy, introduce robotic surgery equipment, strengthen primary healthcare and develop medical physics education form part of its stated efforts to broaden access to cancer treatment and strengthen healthcare services across Bangladesh.
About The Author
Comment List