Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has stressed the need for a humane approach to healthcare alongside modern medical technology, saying empathy and respectful behaviour by doctors are essential to improving the quality of treatment.

“Technology can identify diseases, but there is no substitute for doctors’ humane behaviour in reassuring patients and understanding their fear, anxiety and mental distress,” he said.

The Prime Minister made the remarks on Saturday after inaugurating the new 500-bed building of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Agargaon, Dhaka.

He called for the integration of advanced medical technology with skilled manpower, good governance and empathy to build a healthcare system that is accessible, affordable and capable of providing quality treatment to all.

PM urges doctors to treat patients with empathy

Tarique Rahman said doctors and healthcare workers should listen attentively to patients, understand their mental state and treat them with respect and compassion.

He also emphasised the importance of mutual trust, respect and empathy among doctors, patients and their anxious family members.

“We must remember that ensuring quality healthcare and a proper treatment environment is not the sole responsibility of doctors. If doctors feel insecure, or patients and their relatives do not have trust and respect for doctors, no matter how much we improve hospital infrastructure, we will not be able to stop people from seeking treatment abroad,” he said.

The Prime Minister said the government considers access to healthcare not only a fundamental right but also an important driver of a country’s economic and social development.

He stressed that quality healthcare must be available equally to people regardless of their location or economic status.

“If advanced treatment remains limited to affluent people in cities, it cannot be called a complete modern healthcare system,” he said.

Healthcare services to be expanded nationwide

Tarique Rahman said his government had taken various initiatives to make affordable and quality healthcare available to people in remote areas, disadvantaged communities and marginalised groups.

The government is working to establish a modern and effective referral system through the e-Health Card, he said, which would help patients in remote areas avoid spending large sums of money travelling to Dhaka for treatment.

The government has also started work to establish fully functional primary healthcare units in every union, while every upazila hospital would gradually be upgraded to 151 beds during the government’s tenure, he said.

On child healthcare, the Prime Minister said work had begun to establish 200-bed specialised children’s hospitals in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions and Cumilla district.

“We will be able to open these five specialised children’s hospitals simultaneously next October,” he said.

Highest-ever health allocation

Tarique Rahman said the government had allocated the highest-ever amount to the health sector in the national budget, demonstrating its commitment to building a “healthy Bangladesh”.

“This is not merely a slogan. The government wants to build an effective healthcare system so that people can receive all kinds of healthcare services within the country,” he said.

However, the Prime Minister said government initiatives alone would not be enough to improve healthcare services, as the success of the sector would ultimately depend on doctors, health experts, researchers and everyone involved in the healthcare system.

He said his government was committed to building a welfare-oriented state where no citizen would need to travel abroad for treatment and no one would be deprived of healthcare because of financial hardship.

“I believe that ensuring quality healthcare for ordinary people is possible through you,” he told healthcare professionals.

Neurosciences Hospital capacity doubles

Earlier, Tarique Rahman inaugurated the new 500-bed building by unveiling a plaque on the hospital premises. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, was present at the inauguration.

The new facility brings the hospital’s total bed capacity to 1,000, significantly expanding its ability to provide specialised treatment for patients with neurological diseases, including complex conditions.

Following the inauguration, the Prime Minister visited various departments of the hospital, including the operation theatres and Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and enquired about treatment facilities and services available to patients.

He later addressed doctors, nurses and other staff members of the hospital.