Dhaka: Health Minister Mohammed Nasim on Sunday launched a 24/7 state call centre, ‘Shastho Batayon’, for all sorts of medical consultation and advice.

After the launching at his ministry, Nasim said through this service anyone in the public can seek medical advice over their mobile or land phones, and they can dial 16263 for their one-stop solution, reports UNB.

A group of trained MBBS doctors will always be available round the clock for the consultation, where they can also direct ambulances from nearby public or private hospitals in times of emergency.

The call charges, the minister said, are competitive and similar to that of other private medical consultation numbers.

The project has been financed by UK Aid, in association with the ministry’s MIS department, under the health department, which is expected to self-operate using its income to be generated in the near future.

Their IT support is provided by Synesis IT Ltd, a private IT solutions provider.

Through this initiative, this will enable people to avail themselves of public healthcare services from the palm of their hands. The minister also added that this was part of the revolutionary vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The website for Shastho Batayon is , they are also on Facebook at Facebook.com/ShasthoBatayon and can be reached by email at 16263@mis.dghs.gov.bd or by SMS at 01511316263.

During the inauguration, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malek, secretary of the health ministry Syed Monjurul Islam and director general of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Deen Muhammad Nurul Haque were also present on the occasion.