'Bangladesh lags behind other countries'

"Equipment worth crores of taka are lying idle in government hospitals, we are to use those in the most efficient ways," she said, adding, "Through this way we can extend health services to remote areas of the country."

Sufia Rahman, also an eminent cardiologist, was speaking at the premiere show of a television programme titled 'amarhealth' and the inauguration of a web portal at the National Press Club in the city.

Speaking as chief guest she said the standard of Bangladesh's health services is improving day by day and said, "Years back, people of our country used to go to other countries for better treatment, but now the rate has declined significantly."

"Even in Europe, some five percent patients opt for treatment in other countries as they think health services there would be better," she said, adding, "This happens primarily with the affluent patients."

Expressing her satisfaction in Bangladesh's improvement in cardiac diseases, Sufia Rahman said, "I do not believe, no country would be able to conduct cardiac surgeries at such a low cost as Bangladeshi hospitals do."

At the programme, she stressed on the need for prevention of diseases and focused on Bangladesh's success stories in reducing infant mortality and vaccination programme.

Director of Laboratory Services at Birdem Dr Shubhagata Choudhury said it is not desired that doctors would make prescription to the patients through television or telephone without examining the patients.

Such prescription might be disastrous for the patients, he added.

The programme will be telecast at 3:05pm on Sundays in Channel i and on the web portal www.amarhealth.com.