Shortage of doctors obstacle to proper healthcare

There is one doctor for every 3,664 people and one nurse for every 6988 people in the country, he said, adding that such situation is not acceptable.

"A total of 38,206 physicians are now working in the country for about 140 million people while the number of nurses are 20,034."

"Despite limitations, we have achieved tremendous success in primary healthcare," the minister said at a discussion at Osmani Memorial Auditorium on the occasion of the World Health Day.

The health directorate and the family planning directorate jointly organised the discussion with the theme 'Working together for health'.

Apart from increasing the number of beds in different hospitals, the government has created 3,176 posts for doctors to make sure that at least one MBBS doctor is available in every union, said the minister.

Due to inadequate budgetary allocation and shortage of educated and trained manpower, satisfactory service is not ensured, he said, adding that the government can spend 6 to 7 dollars per capita, not 34 dollars as suggested by the WHO.

Chaired by the Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry AKM Jafar Ullah Khan, the function was also addressed by Director General of Health Directorate Prof M Shahadat Hossain, Bangladesh Medical Association Secretary General Prof AZM Jahid Hossain and WHO Country Representative Dr Duangvadee Sunghobol.