Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Thursday proposed a Tk23,383 crore in FY2018-19 for Health Services Division, and Health Service and Family Welfare Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

‘We have taken steps for implementation of a sector wide programme under 29 Operational Plans during period from 2017 to 2022’ said the minister.

‘Services like providing nutrient foods and health services to mothers and children, quality general and specialised health services for all, control of communicable and non-communicable diseases and diseases caused by climate change, development of modern and efficient medicine sector and skilled manpower, will be provided under this programme’, he added.

The minister also said: ‘Alongside infrastructure development, we have started the process of recruiting for 9,792 doctors in two phases to ensure that the health services reach to the rural people. Steps have also been taken to recruit additional 4,000 senior nurses to bring doctors-nurse ratio at 2:1.’

‘Besides, we have finalised the recruitment of 600 midwives with an aim to bring birth time child and maternal mortality rates to zero by 2021. Over and above, we have a plan to establish one medical college by turn in each division to upgrade the standard of health services’, the minister added.

Legal framework

Mentioning the government is bringing reforms in the legal framework, the minister said, ‘We are formulating ‘Medical Services Act’ by repealing ‘The Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982’. In addition, ‘Mental Health Act’ is going to be formulated replacing ‘The Lunacy Act 2012’ with a view to provide mental health safeguard and providing mental health services to them.’