Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs Minister Professor Dr A Z M Zahid Hossain said Bangladesh must acquire modern technology and international expertise to advance its healthcare system. Speaking as chief guest at a World Hepatitis Day event organised by the Bangladesh Gastroenterology Society at Bangladesh Medical University on July 28, he said improved hepatitis B treatment at home could reduce patients’ need to seek care abroad, lower medical costs and save foreign currency.

The minister said a significant share of Bangladesh’s population has fatty liver disease without knowing it. He attributed the growing number of cases to excessive carbohydrate consumption and called for greater public awareness. Referring to the appointment of Imperial College London emeritus hepatology professor Simon Taylor Robinson to BMU’s hepatology department, he said involving foreign and regional experts would help improve medical education through evaluation against international and regional standards.

Members of the Bangladesh Gastroenterology Society called for mandatory hepatitis B screening for all pregnant women. Hossain described the proposal as timely and pledged his highest possible support from his position for its implementation. Robinson presented the keynote paper at the event, chaired by Professor Dr Md Shamsul Arfin.