<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday&nbsp; said that medical equipment for public hospitals must be procured considering the real needs of the patients.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Appropriate usage of the medical equipment has to be ensured,” she said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She also asked the authorities concerned to be careful in making decision on the purchase medical equipment.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The prime minister said this while witnessing a presentation on health sector transformation in the establishment of universal health care at her official residence Ganabhaban.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary KM Shakhawat Moon told reporters that the PM has given necessary directions after observing the presentation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In her remarks the prime minister highlighted Bangabandhu's groundbreaking steps to advance the health sector after independence and said that the father of the nation gave the highest importance to the health services of the common people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said that the great development that has taken place in the health sector like every sector in Bangladesh in the last one and a half decades.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She said that her government has brought health services to the doorsteps of the common people.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">She emphasised on sustaining the achievements of the current government and moving forward in the health sector.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Samant Lal Sen, State Minister&nbsp; Rokeya Sultana, President of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Health Ministry Dr. AFM Ruhal Haque, Prime Minister's Advisor on Private Industry and Investment Salman Fazlur Rahman, PM’s Principal Secretary Md. Tofazzel Hossain Mia, Health Secretary Md. Jahangir Alam and Prime Minister's Press Secretary M Nayeemul Islam Khan were present.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>