Prime Minister Tarque Rahman said healthcare standards cannot improve without a mindset of service, addressing doctors at the 37th anniversary programme of DAB on Saturday afternoon. He urged medical professionals to ensure that political involvement does not disrupt their professionalism. He also said a group was active in trying to destabilise the energy sector and that the government was making various plans to address energy problems.

Rahman said a key goal of the government’s health policy was to give greater importance to prevention alongside treatment after illness occurs. He said early awareness of disease causes, prevention and healthy lifestyles could reduce the prevalence of many illnesses. Referring to a statement attributed to Thomas Edison, he highlighted patient care, diet and awareness of causes and prevention as important parts of medical practice.

The government has initiated plans to recruit another 100,000 health workers focused on disease prevention, Rahman said. They will raise public awareness about primary healthcare, prevention and health consciousness, while doctors should lead their proper training. He inaugurated the doctors’ gathering, planted a neem sapling, and Dr Zubaida Rahman also planted a sapling.