DHAKA, Nov 2, 2022 (BSS) - Health experts today laid emphasis on introducing digital healthcare in both urban and rural settings for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 

It is a huge challenge for Bangladesh to provide quality health services to the people but introduction of digital healthcare system is a time befitting option to bring all people under better healthcare services, they told a discussion in the conference room of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro here. 

Chairman of CMED Health Limited Prof Khondakar A Mamun made a presentation at the discussion while CMED Chief Operating Officer Md Ashraf Dawood, journalists from different media outlets spoke at the roundtable. 

In his presentation, Mamun said in the wake of the alarming rise of non-communicable diseases, the people of the country particularly in rural areas have limited access to healthcare facilities. Developing innovative ideas using medical devices could open easier ways for commoners to get better treatment facilities at the quickest time, he said.
 
Mamun said there is a huge potentiality of technology-based healthcare facilities through adjusting it with the upcoming Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). 

He classified three key areas -- community based services, digitization of pharmacies and workplaces -- for introducing digital healthcare services at a very reasonable cost. 

Sumaiya Mutiatur, an official of CMED, said Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) is implementing different projects of digital healthcare facilities at 65 unions in the countries. Nearly 17 lakh people are receiving treatment facilities under these projects. The CMED is providing its supports to implement these projects aiming to promoting digital healthcare services, she added. 

Other speakers said Bangladesh lacks efficient medical professionals, which is ultimately creating an obstacle to provide proper healthcare services to the people. Digital healthcare services could play an important role in providing quality treatment facilities to the people living both in urban and rural areas, they added.