It is heartening to learn that the Government has launched the “Shastya Shuraksha Karmashuchi” (Universal Health Coverage) program on a pilot basis to bring poor people under national health coverage. Initially under this pilot project health cards will be distributed among the poor families under poverty line of three selected upazilas. The health-card holders will be entitled to get admitted to hospitals in the upazilas and avail of treatment of 50 diseases with diagnosis and medicine free of cost. In case if they need any special treatment, arrangement will be made in public and private hospitals in the district or even in the capital. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to inaugurate the program in January, 2016.The Government has indeed taken an appropriate step to help poor people of the country to get proper treatment facilities. It may be mentioned here that due to climate change effects health problems will be significantly increased. According to the experts, human sufferings from Asthma, Respiratory Allergies and Airway Diseases, Cardiovascular Disease and Food borne diseases, etc. will be wide spread. I strongly feel that the Universal Health Coverage Program will also help in protecting the less privileged people from various health problems which might appear as a result of adverse effects of climate change.
Meanwhile I would sincerely call upon the Government to make government healthcare facilities throughout the country including the capital more effective and people friendly.
Yours truly,
Professor M Zahidul Haque
Department of Agricultural Extension & Information System
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University
Dhaka.
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