PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE SECTOR IN BANGLADESH
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE HEALTHCARE SECTOR IN BANGLADESH
Dr Md. Enamur Rahman, MP is a
Member of Parliament in Bangladesh. Dr Rahman is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Textiles; Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights; PNND (Parliamentarians on Nuclear NonProliferation and Disarmament). Prior to entering parliament, Dr Rahman founded several clinics and hospitals. Today, Dr Rahman is Founding Director and President of a number of medical colleges and schools. Dr Rahman has worked tirelessly in the medical and healthcare sector in Bangladesh.
Healthcare is one of the most basic human rights. Over the last few years, it is clearly observed that Bangladesh has made tremendous progress in the sector of healthcare development under the present government led by our Hon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This development has been more prominent after our internationally recognized successes in achieving the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) even with our limited resources. Due to this, in achieving the MDGs, Bangladesh has become a role model for other developing countries in the world. In Bangladesh, healthcare is being provided through an organized healthcare network. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) is the lead agency in this network, which is responsible for formulating national level policy, planning and decision making in the provision of healthcare and education. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) perform its all activities through nine implementing authorities and five regulatory bodies. These are: Implementing Authorities • Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) • Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP) • Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA)
16 | The Parliamentarian | 2017: Issue Three - Bangladesh
• Directorate General of Health Economics Unit (DGHEU) • Directorate General of Health Engineering Department (DGHED) • Directorate General of Nursing services (DNS) • National Institute of Population Research & Training (NIPORT) • Transport and Equipment Maintenance Organization (TEMO) • National Electro Medical and Engineering Workshop (NEMEW) The Regulatory Bodies • Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) • Bangladesh Nursing Council (BNC) • State Medical Faculty (SMF) • Homeo, Unani and Ayurvedic Board • Bangladesh Pharmacy Council Among all the implementing authorities under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) is the largest having a satisfactory number of skilled officers and staff members. The healthcare under the DGHS comprises six tiers of healthcare infrastructures: i) National Level ii) Divisional Level iii) District Level iv) Upozila Level (Sub District v) Union Level and vi) Ward Level. In these six tiers, the types of
health faculties are: 1. National Level - Public Health Institute, Postgraduate Medical Institute and Hospital with Nursing Institute and Specialized Health Centre. 2. Division Level - Medical College and Hospital with Nursing Institute, General Hospital with Nursing Institute, Infectious Disease Hospital and Institute of Health Technology. 3. District Level - District Hospital with Nursing Institute, General Hospital with Nursing Institute, Medical College and Hospital with Nursing institute, Chest Disease Clinic Tuberculosis Clinic, Leprosy Hospital and Medical Assistant Training School. 4. Upazila Level - Upazila Health Complex 5. Union - Rural Health Centre, Union Sub-Center and Union Heath and Family Welfare Centre (UHFWCs). 6. Ward - Community Clinic, Primary Healthcare This means ‘Healthcare at the door steps’ so Bangladesh is one of the top ranking countries that provide free medical services to the people at the community level through various public health facilities. Primary healthcare is provided through an extensive network of health facilities extended down to the community level