Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury has said past governments had left the country’s economy in a fragile state and current government needs two-years time to settle the economy again on right track.

The present government had to face gigantic global crisis triggered by from Middle East war immediate after assuming office, he said referring to the ongoing challenges.

“The government had to spend Taka 40,000 crore from budget for fuel purchase and another Taka 50,000 crore for foreign debt payment in the power sector,” he said.

“With all together, the country’s economy is not in a good shape. Even though government has decided to provide highest allocation in health sector in upcoming budget to ensure healthcare services for downtrodden people free of cost” Amir Khosru said.

The Finance Minister said this while speaking as chief guest at the foundation laying ceremony of 17th storey academic building of Chattogram Maa O Shishu Medical College Hospital here today.

He alleged that most of the allocation in health sector during the fallen regime was misappropriated, and both administrative and academic atmosphere as well as medication education deteriorated due to political interference.

The minister said the present government would give highest allocation to health sector and closely monitor whether the allocation is spent properly.

Amir Khosru said primary healthcare is fundamental rights of every citizen, but people are being deprived of such rights for a long time. The present government is working to strengthen the primary healthcare delivery system, preventive and universal healthcare measures, he said. 

The minister urged the hospital authorities not to enroll students beyond their capacity and strictly maintain standard teacher-student ratio.

The planning minister said the government has been planning to provide medical services commoners to poor in private hospitals, considering the limitations of the public sector facilities.  The government will pay for the poor patients if they take treatment in any designated private hospitals, he said.

The minister put importance on setting up medical technology institute as the country has been facing acute dearth of skilled medical technologist and valuable medical equipment are laying idle or being damaged due to lack of sufficient number of medical technologist. 

Presided over by chairman of the hospital governing body Syed Morshed Hossain, General Secretary Rezaul Karim Azad and hospital Principal Prof. Ashim Barua spoke at the function held at the college premises. 

Later, the Finance and Planning Minister attended a prize distribution and reception given to brilliant students and freshers at Agrabad Mohila College.

Chairman of the Chattogram Education Board Prof. Abdullah Al Mamun, Chattogram Regional Director of Department of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Prof. Fazlul Quader Chowdhury addressed, among others, on the occasion while College Governing Body President Advocate Mofizul Haque Bhuiyan was in the chair.