Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday directed the authorities concerned to introduce ‘e-Health’ card to ensure medical services for people across the country, reaffirming the government’s commitment to delivering healthcare at the doorstep.

The directive came at a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s Office at Secretariat with the Health Minister, State Minister, advisers and health experts, said Prime Minister’s Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon.

He said the Prime Minister instructed the Health Minister to start work on launching the e-Health card without delay.

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“The government’s policy is to ensure healthcare services reach the people’s doorsteps. The Prime Minister asked the ministry to be more proactive in this regard,” he said.

The meeting also discussed identifying abandoned buildings of different government ministries and agencies and converting them into health and family welfare centres under the Health Ministry.

The Additional Press Secretary said there are 170 abandoned buildings under the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) alone. “The Prime Minister directed that such unused government facilities be renovated and turned into clinics and healthcare centres.”

Rumon said the issue of population growth also came up at the meeting.

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“Statistics show that around 3.4 million babies are born in the country every year. Concern was expressed over the annual number of newborns and the ministry was asked to intensify efforts to control population growth, “ he said.

He said the meeting further discussed recruitment of 100,000 health workers in line with the BNP’s electoral pledge, with 80 per cent women and 20 per cent men. “Filling vacant posts of doctors and other health staff in the ministry was also reviewed.”

Rumon said the Prime Minister asked the minister concerned to ensure that doctors are posted and remain present at health centres in remote areas.

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain, State Minister MA Muhith and senior officials were present.

Tree plantation drive to be intensified

Earlier in the morning, Rumon said a meeting of the cell formed to implement the plan to plant 25 crore trees in five years was held at the Cabinet Division conference room with the Prime Minister in the chair.

The Prime Minister directed the authorities to strengthen the nationwide tree plantation programme and reviewed the latest progress of the five-year plan.

Besides government nurseries, saplings will also be collected from private nurseries.

Trees will be planted on khas land, chars, riverbanks, along roads and highways, in forest areas lacking greenery and on the premises of government institutions.

Each student will plant at least one tree and take responsibility for its care, the Additional Press Secretary said.

Forest and Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam, Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Gani and Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister ABM Abdus Sattar, among others, attended the meeting.

As part of the day’s schedule, Director General of Ansar and VDP, Major General Abdul Motaleb Sazzad Mahmud paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman praised the patriotism and professionalism of the members of Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defence Party and assured continued development of the force.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister directed the force to continue its public service activities in the interest of peace, security and the welfare of the people, the Additional Press Secretary added.