Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged all the doctors and staff of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) to serve people with dedication.
"I would like to request all the teachers, doctors, officials, nurses and employees of the university that you dedicate yourselves to providing healthcare services to people. If so, the university will be able to reach its desired destination," she said.
Sheikh Hasina was addressing a function on Thursday after laying the foundation stone of the Super Specialised Hospital of Bangabanhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).
The Prime Minister also opened the new structures constructed under the Centre of Excellence Project at BSMMU. The structures include convention centre, doctors' dormitory and diagnostics and oncology building of the university.
She stressed the need for a greater focus on medical research at the university.
"You'll have to enhance concentration on research further. You'll have to take effective measures so that people can stay away from diseases. You'll have to enhance public awareness about health. We, on our government part, will keep extending all sorts of assistance to you," she said.
Sheikh Hasina hoped that the Super Specialised Hospital will be a full-fledged research centre.
The hospital's project Director Prof Zulfiqur Rahman Khan gave a presentation about this at the function.
In the presentation, he said the 13-storey hospital will be the first-ever super-specialised one in the country. The 1000-bed hospital will provide centre-based medical services to 5000-8000 patients a day, he added.
The hospital is being constructed on 3.8 acres of land on the northern side of the BSMMU at a cost of Tk 13.66 billion (1,366 crore), UNB reported.
Of the project cost, South Korea will provide Tk 10.47 billion (1,047 crore) as low interest loan with 40 years of repayment period.
At the hospital, he said, there will be Centre for Specialised Autism and Maternal and Child Care, Emergency Medical Care Centre, Hepatobiliary and Gastroenterology Centre, Cardio and Cerebrovascular Centre, Kidney Centre, and Respiratory Medicine Centre, General Surgery Centre, Ophthalmology/Dentistry/Dermatology Centre, Physical Medicine/ Rehabilitation Centre.
As per directives of the Prime Minister, there will be gardens around the hospital, sunken gardens, rooftop gardens and other environment-friendly facilities which will be run fully in digital system.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Health and Family Welfare Ministry Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, MP, also spoke at the function, held with BSMMU Vice Chancellor Prof Kanak Kanti Barua in the chair.
