Govt to recruit 10,000 doctors before polls: Health Minister

Mohammed Nasim
Mohammed Nasim

Health minister Mohammed Nasim said on Sunday that the government would recruit about 10,000 more physicians before the next election slated to be held in the yearend.

The minister came up with the disclosure while speaking at a meet-the-press programme jointly organised by the Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) and Bangladesh Health Reporters’ Forum (BHRF) at the BMA office in the capital Sunday evening.

The minister also said that the recruitment of 5,000 doctors would be completed by the next three months in the first phase.

The health minister also said that shortage of human resources is the major obstacle towards ensuring smooth health-care services for the people.

“The present government has been trying to overcome this problem. As part of this, 5,000 doctors will be recruited in the next two or three months and the other 5,000 doctors will be recruited afterwards but before the next general elections,” said Nasim.

The minister also said these newly recruited doctors would be posted to the rural areas.

“We’re also working to formulate a provision making it mandatory that the newly recruited doctors stay at least two years in the rural areas at the beginning of their services,” he added.

Among others, BMA president Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin, Bangladesh Health Reporters’ Forum president Tawfiq Maruf and doctor leaders were present at the programme.