Nearly 485 X-ray machines and around 395 ultrasound machines at upazila health complexes across the country are currently out of order, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said.The minister disclosed the information while responding to a question from Shahjahan Chowdhury MP during a session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad at the parliament today.The question was tabled at the outset of the day’s proceedings.Around 485 X-ray machines in 310 hospitals are non-functional. Of these, about 40 percent are beyond repair, while the remaining 60 percent are repairable and have already been tendered for servicing, he added.The health minister said around 395 ultrasound machines in 252 hospitals are also out of order. Roughly 35 percent are irreparable, while the remaining 65 percent are repairable and have been tendered for maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shahjahan Chowdhury had sought information on shortages of doctors, nurses and medicines at upazila health centres, the number of broken X-ray and ultrasound machines, and the main reasons rural patients are referred to urban hospitals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In reply, the minister said filling vacant posts of doctors, nurses and other health workers at upazila health complexes is an ongoing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As vacancy rates vary across upazilas and institutions, the situation changes over time, he said.Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) regularly reviews manpower requirements and continues recruitment and posting activities to fill vacant positions, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister also said a centrally operated, demand-based procurement and distribution system is in place to ensure the supply of essential medicines.However, temporary shortages may occur at some institutions because of local demand, supply management issues and patient pressure. Regular monitoring and resupply activities are being carried out to address the situation, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Responding to a separate question from Mostafizur Rahman Babul MP on whether limited availability of MRI, CT scan, dialysis and ICU facilities in government hospitals forces patients to rely on costly private healthcare services, the minister said the procurement of heavy medical equipment had remained stalled for many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“The current government has resumed this heavy equipment procurement process and the procurement process of four MRI machines is underway,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He added that 10-bed ICU services have already been launched at 10 district sadar hospitals across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Dialysis and ICU services will be launched in all government district Sadar hospitals and medical college hospitals of the country in phases,” the minister said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Replying to another question from Feni-2 MP Joynal Abedin, the minister said antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is steadily increasing in Bangladesh and has become a growing public health challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said irrational and excessive use of antibiotics, weak infection prevention and control systems, and unregulated use of antimicrobials in both the human and animal sectors are driving the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result, antibiotic-resistant microbes are spreading in the environment, making treatment more complicated, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister also outlined government initiatives aimed at strengthening pathogen detection and expanding AMR surveillance capacity.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Nearly 485 X-ray machines and around 395 ultrasound machines at upazila health complexes across the country are currently out of order, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said.The minister disclosed the information while responding to a question from Shahjahan Chowdhury MP during a session chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6540,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bangladesh","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n