Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University vice-chancellor Professor Md Sayedur Rahman at a roundtable in Dhaka said that cancer medicine should be provided free of charge from hospitals as it was a state responsibility.
He made the remark at the roundtable to mark the Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the National Press Club on Thursday, which was organised by Bangladesh Breast Cancer Awareness Forum, said a press release on Friday.聽
Conducted by chief coordinator of the forum and project coordinator of Gonoshasthaya Community Based Cancer Hospital Dr Md Habibullah Talukder Ruskin, the BSMMU VC was present as chief guest at the discussion.
The VC also said that it was time to think about making all cancer medicines tax free. 鈥業 hope we can do something about this before the next budget.鈥�
Habibullah Talukder Ruskin said that this year the emphasis was on increasing public awareness about the importance of early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of breast cancer.
He said, 鈥楳any patients cannot get treatment due to lack of awareness, ignorance and financial instability even after being diagnosed with cancer.鈥�
Many people are also forced to stop treatment after partial treatment. As a result, the cancer can return more dangerously. It is important to raise awareness about this, he added.
He also assured that the forum would work tirelessly to raise awareness on this issue for the next one year.
Besides, the forum and its various member organisations have taken the initiative to provide surgery to poor breast cancer patients, who cannot afford to undergo surgery, at a cost of only Tk 5,000, with skilled cancer surgeons at Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital, he mentioned.
The Breast Cancer Awareness Day was observed across the country with the theme 鈥楤reast cancer: need early diagnosis, comprehensive treatment鈥�.
Among others, public health and reproductive health expert Dr Halida Hanum Akhtar, public health specialist Dr Abu Jamil Faisal, coordinator of the forum and founding trustee of the COC Trust Mosharrat Sourav, Bangladesh Health Reporters鈥� Forum president Rashed Rabbi, former additional secretary Abdul Hakim Majumder, executive committee member of National Press Club Shahnaz Poli, executive director of Nari Udyog Kendra Mashhuda Shefali, trustee of the COC Trust Iqbal Mahmud, and filmmaker Masihuddin Shaker participated in the discussion.
