Bangla PM urges SEAR to remove inequalities in health care

Dhaka, Aug 20 (UNI) Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia today urged the health ministers of Southeast Asia to urgently find a remedy to stark inequalities in access to healthcare in the region.

She made the call while opening the joint inaugural ceremony of the 24th session of South East Asia Region (SEAR) Health Ministers and 59th session of WHO Regional Committee meeting for Southeast Asia here.

The Health Ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Myanmar, East Timor, North Korea and Thailand and representatives of India and Indonesia are participating in the meetings.

The health ministers, experts and international agencies will be carrying out some brainstorming sessions on ways to ensure good health for all and will address some mortal epidemics that have erupted of late.

Placing a few issues for consideration at the meetings, the Prime Minister said the developing countries need support in evolving new technologies and methods, particularly for making drugs available at affordable prices.

She also suggested that a well-trained and dedicated public health workforce should be developed as the region is facing unprecedented threats from emergent infectious as well as chronic diseases.

The Prime Minister suggested introducing innovative financing methods so that healthcare is affordable and within the reach of all households.

She appreciated the recently published WHO report on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health.

The PM affirmed that Bangladesh, among other countries of the region, would support the World Alliance for Patient Safety initiative and will be a part of the First Global Patient Safety Challenge.

She also said the new theme 'clean care is safer care' would put together concerted efforts to promote the highest standards of practice and behaviour and, undoubtedly, reduce the risks of healthcare-associated infections.

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