Dhaka, 20 November 2022
A Round Table dialogue entitled & quot; Current Status of the Health Services: Opportunities,
Challenges and Way Forward & quot; was held today, 20 November 2022, Sunday, with the support of
The Asia Foundation and jointly organized by the Non-Communicable Disease Control
Program, NCDC (DGHS) and Bangladesh NGO's Network for Radio and Communication
(BNNRC).
A total of 40 participants including representatives of civil society organizations, government
officials, and doctors were in the dialogue organized in the Department of Health meeting room.
The objective of the dialogue was to inform the concerned policy-makers about the
achievements, results and summary of the seminar held at the division and district level with
multi-stakeholders and how to increase the health services for all by making healthcare more
accessible.
At the beginning of the seminar, the Program Manager of the NCDC, Dr. Md. Shahidul Islam
presented his welcome speech giving ideas about the topics of the dialogue. He also moderated
the program.

Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of BNNRC, said that the purpose of today's
dialogue is to discuss the Present Status of Health Services, Opportunities, Challenges and
Way Forward to improve the capacity of the health sector.
Under this initiative, we have provided 25 health journalists (ToT) Training of Trainers and 85
journalists in 4 regional trainings have been given ideas on fact-checking and evaluation
techniques in health reporting. 6 seminars have been completed at the district and divisional
levels.

Moreover, under this initiative, 50 Health Journalists of print, electronic and online media in
Dhaka and outside of Dhaka have been awarded to enable them to produce in-depth reports on
health issues. 200 reports are being prepared under the fellowship. It highlights the present
status, opportunities, challenges, and way forward of healthcare. There are also reports on
communicable and non-communicable diseases that raise the issue of how the existing facilities
of the health system can be brought to the doorsteps of more people.
Public health expert and consultant Mr. Rehan Uddin Ahmed Raju delivered the keynote
presentation.
Then the participants took part in an open discussion. Distinguished panelists shared their
valuable views and suggestions on healthcare through spontaneous participation in open
discussions.
Mr. Md. Zakaria, Senior Program Manager of The Asia Foundation, gave a brief speech. He
said all should take the responsibility to ensure health for all by playing a responsible role.
The Line Director of the NCDC Mr. Prof. Dr. Md. Robed Amin said in his speech to the chair that
if the doctors directly inform the patient at least once about the facilities available in the hospital
and some free medicines, many patients can benefit. Many patients are deprived of many
services and facilities simply because of ignorance.
It is hoped that the issues raised as a result of the speech and open discussion of the seminar
will be able to play a helpful and effective role in ensuring quality and quality health care for all.
BNNRC is in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
accredited with the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), SDGs Media Compact of
the United Nations, and UN WSIS prize winner 2016, Champion 2017, 2019, 2020, and
2021. BNNRC’s approach to media development is both knowledge-driven and context-
sensitive. It considers the challenges and opportunities created by the rapidly changing media
environment in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.