Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today asked the authorities concerned to take a pilot project to develop a national e-health platform to bring the country’s healthcare under an integrated digital framework.

He gave the directives whiling chairing a meeting on integrated information technology-based system for health sector in Prime Minister’s Office, said PM’s Deputy Press Secretary Hasan Shiplu.

The meeting discussed the proposed structure, operational mechanism and potential applications of the national e-health platform in healthcare services.

Initially, the platform’s effectiveness, potential challenges, costs and feasibility will be assessed through a pilot project in several districts.

Based on the experience and findings of the pilot project, the government will take plans for expanding the platform nationwide gradually.

At the meeting, the prime minister stressed the effective use of information technology in healthcare, saying the integrated system should be developed to make healthcare services more accessible, convenient and beneficial to the people.

He also emphasised securely storing patients’ essential health information and ensuring its ready access to relevant physicians and healthcare institutions when needed.

The prime minister further stressed ensuring data security and individual’s privacy, while making the platform user-friendly, cost-effective and sustainable in the long term.

He asked the authorities concerned to properly evaluate the outcome of the pilot project before taking further steps.

Engineer Zakaria Swapan made a presentation at the meeting outlining various aspects of the proposed platform.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, State Minister MA Muhit, Special Assistants to the Prime Minister SM Ziauddin Hyder and Md Shakirul Islam Khan, Health Services Division Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, ICT Secretary Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan and senior officials of the concerned ministries, departments and agencies attended the meeting.