'Steps taken to make more cancer specialist'

Parliament Correspondent: The government has taken effective steps to create more specialist cancer physicians to ensure cancer treatment. For this purpose, steps have been taken for the training of the physicians in and outside the country.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this in the parliament on Wednesday in a written reply to a question from treasury bench member Samshul Haque Chowdhury (Chittagong-12).

The premier said every year around two lakh people are being affected by cancer in the country while there is only one physician for every ten lakh people.

Hasina said considering the expensive treatment of the cancer disease the government has given the task to some philanthropic organisations to provide services to the common people at low price.

Local pharmaceuticals are being encouraged to manufacture the medicine of cancer to lessen dependence on import and bring the medicine within the purchasing capacity of the common people, she said.

The Awami League-led government has taken initiatives to distribute free of cost to the patients who are taking treatment in the National Cancer Research Institute and Hospital and other government hospitals, the Prime Minister said.

She said the 50-bed national cancer research institute has been upgraded to 300-bed during Awami League government along with refurbishing with modern equipment.

Services are being given at low price to the patients in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, she said adding that government hospitals are providing therapy to the cancer patients at one tenth cost of private hospitals.

Some patients are given treatment free of cost, she said.

risingbd/DHAKA/June 21, 2017/Hasan/Amirul