Health minister Samanta Lal Sen on Tuesday said that the work was under way to create a shared health record for every citizen, providing a unique health ID.
鈥楾he work of providing unique health ID has started in certain hospitals on an experimental basis. The project will be expanded soon based on the results of the pilot programme. So far, 14,03,889 IDs have been issued under the programme,鈥� he said.
The health minister made these remarks in the parliament while responding to a tabled question of the government party lawmaker Mahmud Hasan Ripon, elected from Gaibandha.
He mentioned that automation had been introduced in 67 hospitals under the HIS and e-Health operation plan of health department鈥檚 MIS branch. A development project proposal had been formulated to introduce automation in all hospitals.
In response to a question from the ruling party lawmaker M Abdul Latif from Chattogram, Samanta Lal said that health department鈥檚 MIS branch had created an online platform for dengue reporting.
鈥楾hrough this platform, test results of dengue patients will be available immediately, preventing multiple reports of the same patient,鈥� he explained.
The minister added that a 鈥榙engue focal person鈥� had been appointed in all government medical college hospitals and district headquarters hospitals. These focal persons were responsible for collecting stock and demand data for dengue test kits, IV fluid (saline), and other logistics regularly for the treatment of dengue patients across the country.
鈥楾o ensure the treatment of dengue patients, 2,15,752 litres of IV fluid (saline), 8,87,569 saline sets, 26,135 mosquito nets, and 1,01,159 dengue test kits have been kept in 54 hospitals in different districts of the country. Additionally, 8,51,514 dengue test kits (NS-1), 1600 combo IgG and IgM test kits, and 1100 dengue RNA diagnostic kits, provided by the Chinese government, have been stored in the Central Medical Stores Depot.
With the help of World Health Organization, 55,000 bags of ringer鈥檚 lactate saline and 20,000 bags of 500 mL normal saline have also been stocked at CMSD鈥�, he continued.
The minister reported that some 2,00,000 kits were stocked for dengue testing, with 1,11,000 kits supplied to 64 districts and the remaining in stock.
In response to Awami League reserved seat lawmaker Farida Yasmin, Samanta Lal said that there were 6,557 seats in 72 private medical colleges in the country.
In response to independent lawmaker Pankaj Nath from Barishal, he stated there were 37 government medical centres in the country.
The health minister also responded to a question from treasury bench lawmaker AFM Bahauddin Nasim from Dhaka, acknowledging that several international organisations, including WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR, Global Fund, Vital Strategies, Save the Children, and JICA, were working to develop Bangladesh鈥檚 health sector.
These organisations provide financial support and assistance in the adoption and implementation of various programmes, he added.
Responding to a question from independent lawmaker Iftekhar Uddin Talukder Pintu from Netrakona, the minister said that the government always encourages foreign investment in the health sector and would take steps to improve the quality of hospital services through Chinese investment.
