Govt hiring 1 lakh workers to strengthen primary healthcare: Finance minister

The government is hiring one lakh workers to strengthen primary and preventive healthcare, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury has said.

"If preventive healthcare can be made effective, the patient load on major hospitals, including Chattogram Medical College (CMC) Hospital, will significantly decrease," he said.

The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting organised at Chattogram Medical College Hospital on Saturday afternoon, July 4.

The finance minister said desired improvements in healthcare cannot be achieved merely by increasing budget allocations or investments. The entire healthcare system must be reorganised to bring about qualitative changes. For this, doctors, teachers and related professionals must play more professional and effective roles in performing their duties.

He said the government is prioritising necessity, urgency, effectiveness and environmental considerations in project implementation. The same approach will be followed in the health sector. While the government is ready to provide necessary funds, proper utilisation of those funds must be ensured.

Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury further said the government is working to improve the country's healthcare standards by following global best practices.

The meeting was attended by Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain, Chattogram-9 MP Abu Sufian, Chattogram Medical College Hospital Director Brigadier General Taslim Uddin, and other concerned officials.