Govt plans Integrated Medical Oxygen Projects in 20 dists to strengthen healthcare capacity : State Minister Muhit
Masbah Uddin Khan
The government is taking an ambitious initiative to implement integrated medical oxygen projects in at least 20 districts during the current fiscal year as part of its efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare capacity and ensure uninterrupted access to life-saving treatment.
Health State Minister Dr. M A Muhit disclosed the plan while speaking as the chief guest at the closing session and high-level policy dialogue of the two-day Bangladesh Oxygen Summit held at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) on Sunday.
He said the government is giving special emphasis to improving the overall medical oxygen infrastructure and ensuring that healthcare facilities, particularly outside major urban centres, have reliable access to medical oxygen.
The minister also highlighted the importance of achieving the Oxygen Access Scorecard, recommended by the Lancet Commission, as a key benchmark for assessing Bangladesh’s progress in ensuring equitable and sustainable access to medical oxygen.
“Strengthening medical oxygen systems is essential for building a resilient healthcare system and ensuring quality treatment for critically ill patients,” Dr. Muhit said, stressing the need for coordinated planning, infrastructure development and effective management of oxygen supplies.
The proposed district-level projects are expected to contribute to a more integrated oxygen supply system by strengthening production, storage, distribution and delivery mechanisms within healthcare facilities.
The initiative comes at a time when ensuring dependable medical oxygen has emerged as a critical component of health-system preparedness, particularly for emergency care, intensive care and the treatment of patients with severe respiratory conditions.
The two-day Bangladesh Oxygen Summit brought together policymakers, health professionals, researchers, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss challenges and policy priorities surrounding medical oxygen access in Bangladesh.
The summit was jointly organised by the Centre for Health, Implementation and Policy Sciences (CHIPS) of IUB and the Bangladesh Oxygen Network.
Health State Minister Dr. M A Muhit disclosed the plan while speaking as the chief guest at the closing session and high-level policy dialogue of the two-day Bangladesh Oxygen Summit held at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) on Sunday.
He said the government is giving special emphasis to improving the overall medical oxygen infrastructure and ensuring that healthcare facilities, particularly outside major urban centres, have reliable access to medical oxygen.
The minister also highlighted the importance of achieving the Oxygen Access Scorecard, recommended by the Lancet Commission, as a key benchmark for assessing Bangladesh’s progress in ensuring equitable and sustainable access to medical oxygen.
“Strengthening medical oxygen systems is essential for building a resilient healthcare system and ensuring quality treatment for critically ill patients,” Dr. Muhit said, stressing the need for coordinated planning, infrastructure development and effective management of oxygen supplies.
The proposed district-level projects are expected to contribute to a more integrated oxygen supply system by strengthening production, storage, distribution and delivery mechanisms within healthcare facilities.
The initiative comes at a time when ensuring dependable medical oxygen has emerged as a critical component of health-system preparedness, particularly for emergency care, intensive care and the treatment of patients with severe respiratory conditions.
The two-day Bangladesh Oxygen Summit brought together policymakers, health professionals, researchers, development partners and other stakeholders to discuss challenges and policy priorities surrounding medical oxygen access in Bangladesh.
The summit was jointly organised by the Centre for Health, Implementation and Policy Sciences (CHIPS) of IUB and the Bangladesh Oxygen Network.
