Staff Reporter:
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain yesterday said an initiative is being taken to install radiotherapy machines at cancer hospitals across the country soon.
“There will be no prolonged delay in installing or removing cancer treatment machines. Radiotherapy machines will be installed quickly at cancer hospitals. Arrangements will also be made to exempt the machines from import duties,” he said.
The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion titled “Cancer Care for All: Integration of Prevention, Precision Treatment, Palliative Care and Policymaking” at the National Cancer Confer-ence 2026 at the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) in the city’s Mohakhali yesterday morning.
NICRH Director Professor Dr Mostafa Aziz Sumon chaired the program.
BNP Standing Committee Member Professor Dr Farhad Halim Dalim, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department Md Khalequezzaman Choudhury and Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr Md Zahid Raihan, among others, spoke at the event.
The minister said the government is taking steps to install radiotherapy machines quickly at cancer hospi-tals so that patients can receive modern treatment in their own country.
“The government will do whatever is necessary to prevent cancer. A significant portion of the health sector budget will be utilised for cancer treatment,” he said.
Sakhawat said the country has the necessary manpower and technologists to operate such modern equip-ment.
“If necessary, arrangements will be made to provide them with three months of training to ensure the optimum use of the new technology,” he said.
Criticising mismanagement in the health sector in the past, the minister said the previous 17-year rule had set the health sector back significantly.
“Negligence in this sector will no longer be tolerated. Those who neglect their duties will not be allowed to remain in their jobs,” he warned.
