Joint Efforts Needed to Improve Healthcare Sector

Chief Adviser of the interim government, Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, has called for united efforts from all stakeholders to strengthen the country's healthcare system.

Speaking at the opening session of the first-ever Civil Surgeon Conference at his Tejgaon office in Dhaka on Monday (12 May), Dr Yunus stressed the importance of cooperation over criticism.

"Blaming one another won't solve the problems in our healthcare sector," he said. "We need to face the shortcomings together and find practical solutions. Even with limited resources, we can still make real progress."

He acknowledged the resource gaps—such as shortages in manpower and equipment—but said that should not stop health officials from doing their best. "We can't just sit back and fold our hands because we don't have enough. We have to work with what we’ve got and keep trying to improve," he added.

Dr Yunus expressed hope that the Civil Surgeon Conference would help address real issues on the ground by bringing health officials together for direct dialogue. "This kind of face-to-face interaction will help identify and solve many of the problems more efficiently," he said.

He also noted that if civil surgeons are sincere in their efforts, it's possible to improve healthcare quality by 25 per cent just by following existing rules and making better use of available resources.

"Healthcare doesn't need a complicated structure, and it certainly doesn't need politics," he added. "It's about service."

Dr Yunus also said he was surprised that such a conference hadn't been held before. "I don't understand why this didn't happen earlier," he remarked.

Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum also spoke at the event, emphasising the importance of coordinated planning.

Modelled after the annual DC Conference that brings together Deputy Commissioners from all 64 districts, this is the first time civil surgeons from across the country have gathered under one roof to discuss district-level healthcare issues.