Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen has said that nothing is impossible if everyone works sincerely.
“I had to face a lot of difficulty in transforming the five-bed burn unit to a 500-bed one. I met with many people. At first, they turned me away and threw away my files. There were such incidents. But I was patient and reached here now with everyone's support,” he said at a press interaction following his assumption of office at the Secretariat on Sunday.
Dr Sen is the founder of the burn unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He later became the chief coordinator of Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
Regarding services at the government hospitals, the minister said the prime minister told him to visit the hospitals himself and take effective measures.
“I will soon visit the hospitals, from one end of the country to the other, and take action. My special focus will be on the rural hospitals. We will work to ensure that the people of the villages do not have to come to Dhaka for medical care but get better treatment from wherever they are,” the minister added.
“The officials who are in this ministry and those outside can come to my office at any time. There will be no protocol at my door for you. I will remain as before. Give me some advice. If we get your advice, we can work freely.”
In response to a question from reporters, the minister said opening a medical college is not the only concern. These colleges will require doctors and other facilities.
He also acknowledged the reluctance among doctors to accept rural postings. “Understanding and addressing the reasons behind this reluctance is crucial. We will engage in dialogues with the physicians and consider various factors before implementing solutions,” added the minister.
Dr Sen declared a zero-tolerance stance to address the persistent issue of corruption in the ministry. “Corruption hinders our progress and will not be tolerated. We must root it out to ensure efficient and fair healthcare delivery,” he asserted.
He also explained his plans to extend vital health services to marginalized communities. “This initiative is a significant step towards transforming the medical experience for underprivileged citizens.
“I will try my best to ensure that healthcare reaches the marginalized. Our goal is to prevent situations where people are compelled to receive medical treatment on hospital floors in Dhaka,” he said.
