Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim on Sunday said the existing law under the BMDC regulating practicing physicians would be updated to make the doctors more accountable. “The government is thinking of incorporating a new provision of investigation and punishment under the law of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC),” he said. The minister was addressing as the chief guest at a seminar at the National Heart Foundation auditorium in the city, marking the World Salt Awareness Week-2014. Nasim said the BMDC will be given the authority to cancel the certificates of doctors if any wrong treatment is proved. The Health Ministry will sit soon with the country’s noted and senior doctors to take suggestions for strengthening the law so that the aggrieved persons can avail of legal remedies from the BMDC, said Nasim. “It has become a regular phenomenon to vandalize hospitals and doctors’ chambers if any patient dies due to wrong treatment, which is not expected, said the Health Minister. Chaired by Secretary General of the foundation National Professor Brig (retd) Abdul Malek, the seminar was addressed, among others, Dr Habib-e- Millat MP, Director General of the Health Department Prof Dr Deen M Nurul Haque, Chairman of Hypertension Committee of National Heart Foundation Prof RK Khandker. Dr Sohel Reza Chowdhury presented the keynote paper. According to the findings of a survey conducted by NationalHeartFoundationHospital and Research Institute, the people of Bangladesh intake salt double than the ideal amount, creating health hazards. As per the WHO, an adult needs to intake 5gm salt a day, but the survey found that an urban dweller intakes 10.3 gm salt a day on average, the double of the ideal amount. In urban areas, a man intakes 11 gm salt, while woman eats 9.3 gm a day on average, the study said. – UNB
