Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today directed the Health and Family Welfare Ministry to launch 'e-Health Card' to ensure healthcare services for the country's people.

The premier gave the directive at a meeting with the health minister, state minister, adviser and health experts at the Prime Minister's Secretariat Office here this afternoon.

"The Prime Minister instructed the health minister to begin work on introducing the e-Health Card. The government's policy is to ensure that healthcare services reach the doorsteps of the people. The Prime Minister urged the ministry to be more proactive in this regard," Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman said.

The meeting also discussed identifying abandoned buildings of various government offices and agencies and bringing them under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to convert them into healthcare centers, he added.

Noting that there are 170 abandoned buildings under LGED alone, Ruman said the Prime Minister directed that such abandoned buildings belonging to the government and its subordinate institutions and agencies be converted into clinics and healthcare centers.

The meeting also discussed the issue of the country's population growth. According to statistics, 34 lakh babies are born every year in the country.

Ruman said the meeting expressed concern over the annual birth rate and directed the ministry to be more active to control population growth.

In line with the BNP's election pledge, he said, the meeting also discussed the recruitment of 100,000 health workers-80 percent women and 20 percent men-as well as filling vacant posts of doctors and healthcare workers under the Health Ministry.

The Prime Minister urged the minister to ensure that doctors provide services at health centers in remote areas, Ruman added.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain, State Minister Dr MA Muhit and concerned senior government officials were present at the meeting.