CA urges doctors to ensure healthcare for all

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus speaks at the inaugural session of the first-ever Civil Surgeon Conference at the Chief Adviser’s Office on Monday, urging physicians to ensure healthcare for all.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday urged doctors to dedicate themselves to ensuring healthcare for all citizens, emphasising that the current moment presents a rare and powerful opportunity for national transformation.

He made the remarks while inaugurating the first-ever Civil Surgeon Conference at the Chief Adviser’s Office in Dhaka. The two-day event marks a new chapter for the country’s health sector.

Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum also spoke at the event.

In his address, Prof Yunus said, “If we set our minds to change, I am confident we can improve healthcare delivery by at least 25 percent with our existing resources and equipment.” He described the launch of the Civil Surgeon Conference as the beginning of a new journey for the health sector, one that also demands a new mindset.

He noted that Bangladesh is experiencing a rare moment of transformation, saying, “Changes that usually take a thousand years are unfolding before us. We are the drivers of this change—it’s in our hands.”

Highlighting the power of individual commitment, he reminded physicians that healthcare doesn’t always require infrastructure. “A doctor can provide care anywhere, even in emergencies. Let’s not wait for ideal conditions,” he said.

Prof Yunus referred to the present time as “a small window of opportunity,” urging healthcare professionals to act decisively as the nation and the world watch closely. “We must emerge from the mindset of the cave age. We are no longer cave dwellers,” he said.

He also underscored the urgency of reducing corruption in the health sector and called for swift implementation of the Health Reform Commission’s recommendations.

“There is no room for politics in healthcare. Doctors serve humanity, not agendas,” he added, urging the medical community to use their strength and compassion to make lasting change.

Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, in her speech, announced the creation of 7,000 supernumerary posts and the recruitment of 7,000 doctors, along with more nurses, to boost the workforce. She also stressed strong collaboration between government and non-government organisations to improve healthcare services.

She called on district civil surgeons to play a proactive role in curbing tobacco use, especially among youth, and proposed significantly increasing taxes on tobacco products and e-cigarettes to protect public health.