Health Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen on Sunday said the government is taking initiatives to upgrade all public hospitals including district and upazila to reach healthcare service to door steps of rural people, reports BSS.

"I'm taking responsibility to ensure treatment facilities for commoners . . . It is very crucial to equip public hospitals with required manpower and updated version of technology," he told journalists after visiting M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital in Dinajpur.

Jatiya Sangsad Whip Iqbalur Rahim, Health Secretary Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, Civil Surgeon Dr Borhanul Islam Siddiqui and Principal of Dinajpur M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital Dr Nuruzzaman, among others, were present on the occasion.

Samanta directed the authorities concerned to shut down all unregistered hospitals, diagnostic centres, and clinics.

"Unregistered medical facilities will not be spared ... stern actions will be taken against those who run medical facilities without licence," he added.

Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan