PM calls for rebuilding doctor-patient trust for better healthcare

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called for rebuilding trust, respect and compassion among doctors, patients and their family members, saying no amount of infrastructure development can ensure quality healthcare unless these three groups maintain a relationship built on mutual respect and empathy.

“If doctors feel insecure instead of having mutual trust and respect, or if patients and their relatives do not feel a relationship of trust and dignity with doctors, then no matter how much we develop hospital infrastructure, we cannot stop people from seeking medical treatment abroad,” he said.

The prime minister made the call after inaugurating newly constructed 15-storey building (Bhaban-2) -2 of the 500-bed hospital at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on Saturday (15 August) morning.

The PM said, the objective of a modern healthcare system is not merely the expansion of infrastructure and technology, rather, it is to ensure accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare for every citizen through a combination of advanced technology, skilled human resources, good governance, and timely policies.”

“I would like to believe that with the inauguration of Bhavan-2 of the 500-bed NINSH today, we have taken another step forward toward achieving that goal,” he added.

Recalling former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman said she had laid the foundation stone of the hospital on October 23, 2006. “With more modern facilities in response to the needs of the time, the hospital has now taken a larger form in terms of its size and capacity,” he said.

The prime minister underscored the need to combine modern technology with humanity in medical services, saying, “Technology can identify a disease, but there is no alternative to a doctor’s humane behaviour in understanding a patient’s fear, anxiety and mental suffering and reassuring the patient.”

“Compassionate care, active listening, and empathy toward a patient's mental state elevate the quality of treatment significantly. However, maintaining uninterrupted healthcare and a peaceful environment isn't the sole responsibility of doctors- it is a collective duty shared by us all,” he added.

Highlighting government efforts to extend healthcare to remote areas, the prime minister stated that a healthcare system cannot be considered truly modern if quality medical care remains accessible only to the urban wealthy.

“Work is underway to set up an effective referral framework driven by e-health cards, ensuring patients in remote regions to get treatment without coming to the capital by spending huge amounts of money,” he added.

As part of this initiative, the Prime Minister said, work has begun to establish fully functional Primary Health Care Units in every union of the country.

“At the same time, each upazila hospital will be upgraded to 151-bed hospital in phases during the tenure of the present government, InshaAllah,” he added.

Source: BSS