Saturday, July 17, 2010

The Bangladesh Today - 17-07-10

National Health Policy

The nation is expected to get soon the long-awaited National Health Policy. The Parliament was told Thursday that National Health Policy 2010 will be finalized very soon and it will determine whether private practice by government physicians will be allowed to continue.

Replying to a question Health Minister Dr AFM Ruhal Haque said the draft of the National Health Policy 2010 was formulated by a committee through a workshop after reviewing the opinions received from various institutions concerned and individuals. The draft health policy was already presented through a press conference, he informed. The Health Minister said that later subject-based workshops and workshops participated by representatives of various professional organizations and institutions were held. He said the present government soon after taking office has taken the initiative to formulate the national health policy and prepared a primary draft through organizing workshops at district and divisional levels.

In fact the work on the finalisation of the National Health Policy proceeded at a snail's pace due to administrative complications and opposition from the stakeholders. The present government has prepared a draft health policy in June 2009, but it was alleged that the draft was prepared without consulting professional bodies in the sector and that most of its contents were reportedly taken from the previous draft policy prepared in 2008 by the caretaker government. Experts stressed on finalising it after consultation with the stakeholders, professionals and members of civil society to make it pro-people. They alleged that it was drafted to encourage privatisation and thus commercialise the health services in the country.
 
The health sector of the country is in a mess and as a result public health is neglected alarmingly. In fact, it is an irony of fate of the people that the country's health sector itself is suffering from acute diseases and so unable to provide necessary services for the people. The infrastructure of the health sector is not strong enough to face the challenge of time and meet the growing needs of the huge population. Now, the health policy should take all these into consider and ensure adequate health services for the people.

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