Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said her government is working to ensure world-class healthcare service for all.
"We're taking measures to make sure that all can get international standard healthcare services," she said while opening 45 more community vision centres at the Upazila Health Complexes in 13 districts across the country.
She virtually joined the inaugural programme held at National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital in city from her official Ganabhaban residence.
The prime minister also opened the newly-built main office of Banshkhali Upazila Awami League in Chattogram and hoped the office will spread her party's policy and ideals among the people.
After opening the 45 community vision centres, she mentioned her inaugurated 90 centres in two phases earlier, saying she planned to build community vision centres across the country in phases to bring all people under free modern and developed eye treatment.
"We're attaching priority on reaching eye medicare services to the people at the grassroots as we're providing other healthcare services to their doorsteps," she said.
The prime minister said many people were saved from getting blind after providing treatment from the community vision centres.
"It is a great achievement for us as a nation while many people have got rid of getting blind," she said.
Briefly describing her government's measures for ensuring overall development of the health sector, Sheikh Hasina said her government has a plan to upgrade the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMC) into a 5000-bed hospital.
The premier said they have yet to start the work relating to upgrading the Dhaka Medical College due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, hoping that they will soon begin the work.
The prime minister in the first and second phase opened 90 community vision centres which have become the role model in South Asia giving modern and developed eye treatment free of cost.
Twenty of the vision centres were opened at Barishal division, 20 in Chattogram division, four in Rajshahi division and one in Khulna division today.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque and Health Services Division Secretary Dr Mohammad Anwar Hossain Howlader spoke at the programme.
National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital Director Professor Dr Golam Mostafa briefly described activities of the community vision centres.
A documentary on giving eye treatment free of cost from the community vision centres was also screened at the programme.
As many as 1,33,1577 persons have so far received eye treatment from these centres while 2,10,868 persons have got eyeglasses free of cost from those.
