Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA), a development organisation of Japan, will provide Tk 703 crore to raise services of medical colleges and hospitals at eight divisions of the country, reports BSS. An agreement to this end was signed yesterday at the health ministry at secretariat in the capital. State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Zahid Malek was present on the occasion as the chief guest. ‘Children and Mother Health and Development of Health Care’ Project Director Prof Mizanur Rahman and Oriental Consultations Global Company Limited’s Dhaka Office General Manager Rohili Ishi signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

Under the project, Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) will develop the imaging systems of Dhaka, Rajshahi, Barishal, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Chattogram, Khulna and Rangpur medical college and hospitals. Malek said the project was passed in the ECNEC. “We hope that the activities of the imaging system will be completed by 2021.

The works of the project will begin after the agreement. Of the total budget of Tk 900 crore, the government part is Taka 197 crore and Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) will provide the rest Tk 703 crore,” he added. He said that a cancer centre with 100 to 150 beds will be constructed at every divisional city. Besides, a kidney center will also be set up at every divisional city, he added.