Health
Medical equipment industry fears setback in recent progress
In 2022, after over two decades of effort, the medical equipment sector in Bangladesh was finally recognized as an emerging industry by the government. This recognition raised hopes for industry leaders that they might receive supportive tax structures and other benefits to encourage local production and protect domestic manufacturers.
22 years on, Paranganj 20-bed hospital still not fully functional
The Paranganj 20-bed hospital, built to serve the healthcare needs of over a million people in the remote char (riverine) areas of three upazilas in Mymensingh, has failed to fully function even after 22 years of its establishment. Due to a lack of a standard staffing structure and absence of necessary medical equipment, the hospital exists only in name. Local residents continue to suffer due to the unavailability of proper medical services.
What to do to cure breast cancer
Hearing the word "cancer" often sends chills down one’s spine. There was a time when cancer was thought to have no answer and was considered a death sentence. But today, this perception is baseless. With the advancements in modern science, cancer is no longer an inevitable end. Cancer treatment is now within reach, and if detected early, it’s possible to treat and even fully cure this disease in many cases. The challenge is that many women don’t seek medical advice promptly.
Effective taxation is necessary to restrain cigarette consumption
Smoking is one of the leading causes of preventable death worldwide. In Bangladesh, every year, about 161,000 people die due to the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products. It affects people regardless of age, especially lower-income people, as one-fifth of their income is spent on buying tobacco products. Apart from this, a large sum of money is spent on the treatment of diseases caused by tobacco use. The total loss we incur from cigarettes is many times greater than the revenue from cigarettes. According to statistics, in the fiscal year 2017-18, BDT 22,810 crore was received from taxation of selling tobacco products, but in the same year, the healthcare cost due to tobacco-related illness was BDT 30,560 crore.
Avoiding mosquito bites key to dengue prevention
This year, even before the monsoon season officially began, the situation regarding dengue fever, carried by Aedes mosquitoes, is showing alarming signs across the country. Everyday, countless people are rushing to hospitals due to dengue fever. Climate change, rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and unplanned urbanization are all contributing to the increased risk of dengue.
One death, many questions
People die in accidents other than natural deaths. Such incidents are not new. When accidents happen due to human negligence and lack of responsibility, they should be considered as culpable homicide or first-degree murder. They raise serious concerns about the value of human life and the need for accountability. Bangladesh, unfortunately experiences accidents that are caused by human actions or negligence. The tragic incident at Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Medical College Hospital in Gazipur is a stark example of such a situation.
Local production of healthcare technologies stressed
Soon after taking the helm of the health ministry, Prof Dr Shamanta Lal Sen shared his vision of bringing government healthcare facilities to the door steps of all citizen across the country. In order to turn the dream into a reality, he imphasized on access to reasonable or low-cost healthcare technologies.
Concerns about the increase in price of medicines again
When the formidable Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe were gripped by Perestroika in the 1990s, the impact of those upheavals resonated from one corner of the world to another. At that time, Cuba was one of the few countries that survived the perestroika’s impact and still exists. However, it was expected that Cuba would be at the very beginning of the list of captured countries one after another in Europe. This expectation was plausible because the country is situated just ninety miles away from the United States.
What Bangladesh can learn from Global Initiatives?
Tobacco consumption poses a substantial public health challenge, contributing to 1.6 million deaths annually in the European Region alone. This global issue resonates deeply in Bangladesh, where approximately 1.62 lakh people die each year from tobacco-related diseases. It resulted in a significant financial burden of Tk30,560 crore in FY18 due to medical expenses and loss of productivity. In combating this epidemic, increasing taxes on tobacco products stands out as a vital strategy.
Despite fear of burning, private medical facilities should be brought within reach
A child named Ayan has returned from the hospital as a lifeless body after undergoing circumcision. It is impossible for us to comprehend the feelings of his parents. On December 31, Ayaan was taken to the United Medical College Hospital in the capital, Badda, for circumcision. There, without the parents' consent, the child is circumcised by a doctor using full general anesthesia. After the circumcision is completed, Ayan is not brought back to consciousness at that place and is sent to Gulshan-2 United Hospital.
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