Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain today said initiatives will be taken to install modern equipment at the Infertility Centre of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) here to ensure advanced treatment facilities for infertility in the country.

"The Prime Minister has directed the authorities to ensure world-class treatment facilities at hospitals across the country. State-of-the-art technologies from around the world will be brought to Bangladesh to ensure advanced treatment," he said.

The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at a scientific seminar organised at the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Unit of Dhaka Medical College this morning, on the occasion of the Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month.

Sakhawat said the rate of infertility in the country is increasing due to hormonal and metabolic problems among women caused by polycystic ovary syndrome.

"Modern treatment facilities in many countries have created opportunities for people to conceive. Therefore, we have already contacted countries, including China, to bring advanced technologies to Bangladesh soon," he said.

Emphasising training to develop skilled physicians in infertility treatment, the minister said infertility treatment is also an important component of healthcare.

"When a couple is unable to have children, they often face social stigma and harassment. If the problem can be resolved through treatment, there is no reason for us to lag behind in this area," he said.

Stressing the need to reduce patients' tendency to go abroad for infertility treatment, Sakhawat said many patients travel to India and Thailand for treatment despite the capabilities of talented Bangladeshi doctors, resulting in a significant outflow of foreign currency.

He said awareness campaigns on infertility treatment would be strengthened at the district and village levels alongside efforts to create confidence among people that treatment comparable to that available abroad is possible in Bangladesh.

Women suffering from infertility would be encouraged to seek treatment in the country, the minister said, adding, "Even if we can achieve success in 80 percent of the cases that would be a major success for the country."

Praising physicians involved in infertility treatment, he said he would make his utmost efforts to fulfill the commitments if he gets their cooperation.

Head of the DMCH Gynaecology Department Professor Dr Musarrat Sultana chaired the seminar.

Health Services Division Secretary Dr ANM Bazlur Rashid, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Director General Professor Dr. Pravath Chandra Biswas, Dhaka Medical College Principal Professor Dr Md Mazharul Shaheen and DMCH Director Brigadier General AKM Farhad Hossain, among others, spoke at the seminar.