Initiative will be taken to appoint specialists across the country for treatment of blood diseases: Health Minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has informed that an initiative will soon be taken to post adequate specialist doctors or haematologists in various regions of the country to strengthen the treatment service of blood diseases. Research will have to be increased along with making young doctors skilled so that the patients infected with blood diseases can get treatment of international standard in the country itself.

He said these things as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the two-day seventh annual conference of the Haematology Society of Bangladesh (HSB) ‘Haematocon-2026’ at Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Centre on Wednesday (October 14). The theme of the conference was ‘Shaping Tomorrow’s Haematology’.

Besides the international experts of Bahrain, India, the United Kingdom, Italy, Pakistan and Singapore, the eminent haematologists, doctors and researchers of the country participated in the conference.

Under the presidency of President of the Haematology Society of Bangladesh and convenor of the conference Professor Dr. Amin Lutful Kabir, Director General of the Directorate of Health Education Professor Dr. Nazmul Hossain was the special guest at the programme. At that time member-secretary of the conference and general secretary of the society Professor Dr. Md. Adnan Hasan Masud, convenor of the scientific committee Dr. Mujahida Rahman and scientific secretary of the society Associate Professor Dr. Monirul Islam were present.

The speakers at the programme said that coordination among the doctors, researchers and related institutions will have to be further strengthened to ensure advanced treatment service for the patients infected with blood diseases.

At the inaugural ceremony the grant was handed over to the winners of the M A Rashid Grant. It is being hoped that this grant will contribute to the haematology research of the country. Besides, certificates and honorariums were given to the reviewers of the ‘Haematology Journal of Bangladesh’ as recognition of academic contribution in evaluating the research papers.

In the concluding speech Professor Dr. Amin Lutful Kabir highlighted the contribution of the related persons in organising the conference, the participation of local and foreign experts and the importance of the collective initiative in the development of haematology treatment and research. Later the inaugural organisation ended through a cultural programme. In this the tradition of eternal Bengal and the traditional structures of Dhaka were highlighted.

On the first day of the conference scientific sessions were held on thalassaemia, lymphoma, chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). On the second day various seminars were held on acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) of adults, haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), cellular therapy and cancer immunotherapy.

At the conference the young haematologists got the opportunity to present their research papers and posters. In various sessions discussions were held on the possibility of disease control and cure, accurate disease diagnosis, person-centred treatment and targeted therapy.

The organisers informed that through this conference the opportunity for direct exchange of views of the haematologists of the country with the international experts has been created. Especially the young doctors, trainees and researchers have got the opportunity to build professional contacts along with knowing about the recent progress in the diagnosis and treatment of blood diseases. Strengthening mutual cooperation to expand haematology research, increase the skills of the doctors and ensure modern treatment service for the patients infected with blood diseases is the goal of the conference.