Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday said her government has a plan to set up one medical college hospital in each district, aiming to provide better healthcare services to people.

The Prime Minister said this while speaking at the 43rd annual conference of Bangladesh Ophthalmological Society at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh in capital.

Mentioning the challenge in establishing medical colleges in all districts, Sheikh Hasina said getting faculty members for the medical colleges will be a major problem, reports UNB.

The prime minister said:‘The scarcity of teachers is the main problem for the medical colleges as many physicians are not interested to go outside Dhaka city, but we’re trying our best to address the problem.’

Sheikh Hasina also mentioned that the government has already established medical colleges in different districts and divisional headquarters, in addition to setting up five medical colleges in five divisions of the Bangladesh Army.

For ensuring better healthcare services at the doorsteps of people, the Prime Minister said the government has already increased the number of beds in hospitals across the country.

Hasina also reiterated here government’s plan for setting up a medical university in Sylhet.

The government already has taken steps to set up two medical universities in Chittagong and Rajshahi. Separate laws have been enacted in this regard.

Presided over by president of Bangladesh Ophthalmological Society Prof Sharfuddin Ahmed, the programme was addressed, among others, by Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim, State Minister Zahid Maleque, former adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Syed Modasser Ali, director general of Health Department Deen Mohammad Nurul Huq.