Health Minister Mohammed Nasim yesterday said doctors would see patients at the community clinics across the country at least once a week.
He said he would visit the clinics in villages to see if those were open and providing healthcare services duly.
“No initiative will fail if people’s involvement can be ensured,” he said while speaking at the programme where the book “Community Clinic Health Revolution” penned by Shamsuddin Ahmed was unveiled.
Held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital, the programme was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) under the Community Clinic Project.
Dr N Paranietharan, WHO representative in Bangladesh, said he was surprised as well as pleased to see the revolution of community clinics in the country. “Bangladesh has achieved the top position in developing healthcare services for rural people.”
A documentary was screened at the programme where it was shown that there are 12,040 community clinics in the country. Health workers are trained for six months before they being working at the clinics.
Each clinic has a 17-member group that provides medical advice and patients can get free healthcare services for about 40 types of diseases. Birth and death registrations can also be done at the clinics.
Addressing the programme, Community Clinic Project Director Dr Makhduma Nargis said community clinics are working to ensure safe child birth.
Health Secretary Syed Monjurul Islam presided over the programme while Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Deen Muhammad Nurul Haque and Director General of the Family Planning Department Nur Hossain Talukder were also present.