Only one doctor for 6,579 people: Nasim tells JS

There is only one registered doctor for per 6,579 people in the country, according to a statistics of Sample Vital Registration System, 2015.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim placed the statistics in parliament while replying to lawmakers’ queries today.

According to the Sample Vital Registration System, total population of Bangladesh is 158.1 million while there are 22,374 doctors are now working under the government’s health department.

“As per the statistics, the ration of doctors at the government health organizations and people are 1:6579,” Nasim said in a scripted answer.

Mentioning the statistics of registered doctors of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, the minister also said the ratio between government and private doctors and people are 1:1847 which means there is only one doctor (private and government) for per 1,847 people in the country.

While replying to another query, Nasim told parliament that at present local medicine producers are able to meet 98 percent demand of the country while Bangladesh has turned into a export oriented nation in medicine from import oriented one.

In a scripted reply, Nasim added in 2014, Bangladesh exported medicine to 92 countries including developed countries in Europe and USA and earned Tk 733 crore.