Low cost primary healthcare resumes for Ctg city dwellers
Under the project, city dwellers will get 38 types of health check-ups at a lower price than at other hospitals in the city
Chattogram city dwellers started getting sixteen types of health services, including maternity services, at low cost on October 1 under the Urban Primary Health Care Services Delivery Project.
The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) has resumed the project to ensure low cost healthcare for the city's dwellers after a closure of around eight years.
To this end, CCC Chief Health Officer signed an agreement with the project director of the local government ministry on September 30.
Previously, the project had been completed in two terms till December 31, 2012. In the third term, the corporation backtracked from the project. In the fourth term, the CCC is implementing the project again.
CCC Chief Health Officer Dr Selim Akhter Chowdhury told The Business Standard that under the project, birth control services will be available free of cost and family planning materials for only Tk5.
Further, beneficiaries will get 38 types of health check-ups as well as 16 types of health services at a lower price than at other hospitals in the city.
CCC's Health Department sources said under the project, maternity services, child health services, adolescent health services, nutrition infectious disease control, non-communicable disease control, and general medical services for various diseases will be provided in 15 wards of the city.
Tests for typhoid are Tk80 to 100, blood sugar Tk40 to 80, and jaundice Tk60 to 80; while urinalysis is Tk30 to 40 and ECGs are from Tk300 to 500.
Under the project, normal delivery charges will be levied from Tk1,000 to Tk1,200 at three maternity hospitals in the city. The service for a caesarean operation with all expenses included is from Tk10,000 to 12,000.
CCC Administrator Mohammad Khorshed Alam Sujan told The Business Standard the city corporation is committed to ensuring that city dwellers get better services at low cost under the project.
Sources at the CCC said the project will be implemented on the basis of a public-private partnership – implemented by the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In 1998, the infrastructure of five maternity hospitals and 43 urban health centers in the city were built under the Urban Health Care Project.
On October 25, 2018, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed loan, grant and project agreements with the Bangladesh government. Of those, the CCC signed the project agreement.
CCC health officer Dr Mohammad Ali told The Business Standard among the three packages of the project, the city corporation will implement Package 1 and 3 while NGOs will implement Package 2.
Each package includes five health centers and a maternity hospital. The project is scheduled to continue until March 31, 2023.
The wards covered under Package 1 of the project are: Chandgaon, East Sholashahar, West Sholashahar, Shulakbahar, and East Bakalia. Package 3 covers: Gosaildanga, North Central Halishahar, South Central Halishahar, North Patenga, and South Patenga.
The two maternity hospitals under the two packages of the CCC are Shafa Motaleb Maternity Hospital at Mohra Ward and Bandartila Maternity Hospital in South Halishahar Ward.
Additionally, Package 2 includes the: North Pahartali, North Kattoli, South Kattoli, Pahartali, and North Halishahar wards.