Necessity of private medical universities for the development of the healthcare industry in Bangladesh

The future of the healthcare sector of Bangladesh highly depends on its medical education system. The demand for highly skilled doctors, researchers and healthcare professionals is increasing with a growing population and evolving healthcare needs. Private medical universities have been playing a crucial role to meet the demand. So thereby, private medical universities are no longer an option for the development of the healthcare sector in Bangladesh; rather, they have become a necessity.

Over the past years, Bangladesh has suffered to meet the demand of medical graduates. Many students are travelling to the foreign countries for medical education. They spend billions in these foreign institutions. This is not just a financial drain but also a loss of talent since most of these graduates do not return to the country. But, through providing world-class medical education here in this country, private medical universities can reverse this trend. It will ensure the brightest minds stay in the country & serve the people of our country.

Private sectors have already brought a revolution to the healthcare sector of Bangladesh, but there is still a long way to go. The similar vision should be extended to medical education as well. Private medical universities can create an ecosystem where education, research & medical practices can work together and produce doctors who are both academically excellent & trained in real-world patient care. This will take Bangladesh a step ahead to become the hub of medical education in South Asia.

Furthermore, private medical universities can take medical research to another level. We will not have to rely on foreign studies and research to face healthcare challenges if we invest in our own research. Private hospitals have already elevated our healthcare industry, and I believe that private universities will do the same for medical education. The future of healthcare in Bangladesh depends on the quality of medical research, and private medical universities can play a crucial role here.

Moreover, the medical field is not just composed of doctors and nurses. It is a vast system that includes hospital administration, medical technology, diagnostics, telemedicine, pharmaceuticals and, above all, health policy. To serve this industry, Bangladesh needs medical graduates who not only excel in their academics but also are job-ready.

Private medical schools can structure courses that blend several disciplines, provide real-world experience in the healthcare environments of the day, and encourage coordination with healthcare companies and hospitals. Such a focus on industry needs guarantees that graduates are immediately ready to assist, improving the productivity, service quality, and competitivene ss of the healthcare industry worldwide.

The writer is the Managing Director of Labaid Cancer Hospital and Super Speciality Centre and Deputy Managing Director of Labaid Group. E-mail: [email protected]