Dhaka, Oct 30, (V7N) – State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit on Friday called for creating opportunities for young doctors and medical students to think freely and pursue careers beyond conventional pathways.
"Instead of putting the enormous talent and dreams of young doctors and medical students into any specific mould or box, we should give them the opportunity to think freely," he said.
Young people should create their own career paths — beyond the conventional confines of medical science — with policymakers and teachers serving merely as facilitators or catalysts, the state minister added.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at the 15th Medical Biochemistry Conference at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital, according to a press release. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister SM Ziauddin Hyder spoke as a special guest at the event organised by the Bangladesh Society of Medical Biochemists.
Calling on young doctors to become world-class researchers, Dr Muhit said revolutionary changes are taking place globally in medical science, particularly in molecular biology and genetics. He said there is still enormous scope for research as adequate data from most developing countries outside the developed world had not been included in global initiatives such as the Human Genome Project. Dr Muhit expressed optimism that talented young doctors in Bangladesh could establish themselves as world-class researchers if they are provided with opportunities and proper guidance.
Recalling the contributions of Professor Liaquat Ali, he said the professor was a shining example of how one could become an internationally recognised researcher through dedication and vision despite limited institutional support.
Highlighting various challenges facing the medical biochemistry sector, the state minister said the government had already taken specific measures to address the shortage of teachers in medical colleges. Discussions have also been held at the ministry on re-engaging experienced retired teachers and introducing special incentives for them, and decisions have already been taken in this regard, he said.
Dr Muhit said a correct policy decision taken by the government in 2000 had resulted in the number of physicians holding postgraduate qualifications in medical biochemistry exceeding 530 in the country, while the membership of the society had increased to around 600. "This proves how the right policy intervention can transform a neglected sector," he said.
Speaking at the event, Ziauddin Hyder stressed the need to strengthen four key pillars — medical education, nursing, pharmaceuticals and diagnostic services — saying these are crucial to delivering modern healthcare services in the country. He noted that there was some imbalance in the number of medical doctors and specialists, particularly a severe shortage of postgraduate specialists in basic disciplines such as physiology and biochemistry, which remains a regular challenge for the country's healthcare system.
Director General of the Directorate General of Medical Education Professor Dr Nazmul Hosain, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr Foara Tasmim, President of the Bangladesh Society of Medical Biochemists Professor Major General (Retd) Dr Debashish Saha and Secretary General Dr Syeda Shahina Sobhan, among others, spoke at the conference.
