We earned good scores in tackling coronavirus: Health minister
He said a new director general of the health directorate would be appointed after discussions at the highest level of the government
Health Minister Zahid Maleque says he thinks his ministry has achieved good marks in handling the Covid-19 pandemic.
"What is the number? Our death rate is only 1.5 percent, and this is the biggest number. This number is 6 percent in the US, 10 percent in Europe and 6 percent in the whole world. This is the criterion that shows we have worked," he said.
The minister was addressing a briefing at the Secretariat on Wednesday.
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He said journalists could tell better whether the ministry had done well in fighting the pandemic.
"Your exam score depends on how well you did on your exam," said Zahid.
He said the number of hospital patients had halved, meaning there was no critical patient anymore.
This is because treatment has improved a lot, and many are receiving home treatment, the minister said.
"This means the telemedicine we are providing is working well. Over 4,000 doctors are providing telemedicine," said Zahid.
He said a new director general of the health directorate would be appointed after discussions at the highest level of the government.
"We will discuss this with the prime minister, if necessary."
He went on to say, "Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad was a grade-1 official. The public administration ministry will take necessary steps to accept his resignation, which he submitted to the ministry's secretary."
Zahid said the work to appoint a new director general would begin once Azad's file came to the health ministry from the public administration ministry.
He said the government has formed a fresh, strong task force.
"The task force will monitor whether there is any irregularity in the country's healthcare institutions, including hospitals and clinics."
Asked whether any action was taken against other health directorate officials involved in irregularities, the minister said, "We will of course address issues that need change. We want proper management. We want people to receive service."
"We have worked to serve the people in the last five months. The health ministry was actively working at the field level, and many others assisted us."
Zahid said the coronavirus vaccine that is good will be accepted.
He said the ministry has stayed in touch with those who are working on the vaccine and have reached the third stage.
"We are considering all options. Those who came from China have also contacted us. We are considering all the vaccine options, and the government will decide which one to accept and when. We will wait for that decision," the minister said.
He added, "The Bangladesh Medical Research Council has discussed technical aspects of the Chinese vaccine trial, but the permission depends on the government decision. The trial is also a government decision."
