State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malek yesterday said the government has taken an initiative to introduce 'Health Protection Law' aiming to strengthen the monitoring system of the health services at private hospitals across the country, reports UNB.

"The government is trying to control the medical costs and monitor the health services of the private hospitals. Already a wing has been opened at the ministry to monitor the health services at private hospitals," said Zahid Malek.

The state minister came up with the information while talking to reporters at a press briefing at the Secretariat organised for the preparation of "World Health Day" to be observed on April 7 across the globe.

"The Health Protection Law will be sent to the Cabinet for approval after completing its vetting in this month," he said.

Replying to a question about people's interest in going to India for better treatment, the minister said, "The medical services at the government hospitals in Bangladesh are good. But treatment in three categories including heart, kidney and cancer is better in India. We are working to boost the medical treatment in these sectors."

Besides, the government has taken a pilot project 'Universal Health Coverage' to bring people under health insurance, he said.

The World Health Day will be inaugurated at Osmani Memorial Auditorium around 10:30am on April 7, he added.

During the tenure of the current government, many new buildings were constructed in different medical colleges and 13,000 physicians, 15,000 nurses and 16,000 employees have already been appointed while the process for recruiting 10,000 more physicians, 5,000 nurses and 40,000 employees is underway. According to World Health Organisation, the mortality rate of Bangladesh is 71.8 per cent while it was 65.5 percent in 2000.