Social Welfare Minister Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain has said that despite having many surgeons and professors in the country’s healthcare sector, there is a lack of visionary planning.

He made the remarks at a seminar held at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases on Friday morning.

The minister said meaningful progress in the health sector would not be possible unless necessary measures could be taken at any moment to ensure patient care.

“The government has taken various initiatives in the education and healthcare sectors. Budgetary allocations have also been made for the development of healthcare. The allocated funds must be used properly,” he said.

He noted that the number of cardiac patients is increasing in the country. However, people no longer need to go abroad for various cardiac check-ups, as such facilities are now available in Bangladesh. “The expertise of our surgeons and professors must be utilized.” 

The minister also recalled that Bangladesh’s first successful open-heart surgery was performed on September 18, 1981. “From that historic day, Bangladesh’s cardiac surgery has completed 45 years.”