State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr M A Muhith on Thursday said the e-health card is close to implementation as part of the government's efforts to reform the country's health sector.
He made the comments at a seminar held at the Bangladesh Medical Association conference room in the capital.
Muhith said artificial intelligence (AI) has become significantly more important in the health sector than it was two to two-and-a-half years ago. He said e-health cards and digital prescriptions are now close to implementation.
He said the government is placing special emphasis on using digital roadmaps and AI to reorganize the country's health system and strengthen primary healthcare. Work is underway to remodel the health system, with the detailed framework outlined in the election manifesto and subsequent speeches.
The state minister said priority has been given to developing a digital roadmap for primary healthcare and the overall health system.
He said the plans were developed over the past one-and-a-half to two years through a "participatory process," incorporating opinions from health experts in Bangladesh and abroad.
Referring to rapid technological advancement, Muhith said progress that previously took five or 10 years is now being achieved within two years. He said the technological changes over the past two years have been reflected in the "Suswasthyer Bangladesh (Healthy Bangladesh)" documentation.
Muhith said government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and academic research institutions are working toward the common goal of ensuring healthcare for all and establishing primary healthcare as a state priority.
Also present at the seminar were Director General (Additional Secretary) of the Health Economics Unit Dr Md Enamul Haque and Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services, Professor Dr Foara Tasmim, among others.