Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu called on local pharmaceutical industry owners and medical service providers to get accreditation certificates so patients build confidence on them.
He was addressing a seminar as chief guest in Dhaka yesterday.
Bangladesh Accreditation Board (BAB) and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) jointly organised the seminar on “Accreditation: Supporting the delivery of health and social care,” to mark World Accreditation Day.
“The country has a sufficient number of medical service providers including hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres, but the patients cannot keep faith in their services.
“As a result, lakhs of Bangladeshi people went abroad for treatment spending thousands of foreign currency,” Amir Hossain Amu said.
“If we can maintain international standards in treatment and healthcare services, people will not go abroad to take treatment.”
The industries minister urged the pharmaceutical industry owners to ensure quality in medicines and healthcare services and get accreditation.
BAB has received international recognition, he said, adding that Bangladesh’s exports will increase as BAB’s accreditation is acceptable in many countries now.
“Proper accreditation is a must for our health sector, as healthcare is the most costly commodity in the country,” said Pran Gopal Datta, former vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University.
Presenting a keynote paper, he laid stress on maintaining a quality healthcare system to popularise medical tourism.
He also put emphasis on good governance in the healthcare sector.
Ex-VC of BSMMU suggested bringing all laboratories in Bangladesh under the accreditation requirement.
DCCI’s acting president Humayun Rashid said people do not have enough faith in the local healthcare system; the country has immense potential for medical tourism to flourish here.
Calling on the government to strengthen the capacity of BSTI, he said accreditation for all business sectors are needed to promote and diversify exports.
A total of 23 organisations have got accreditation certificates. At the seminar, eight organisations received accreditation certificates.
