The government will work to make cancer treatment services accessible to people across the country within the next five years, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit has said.

He noted that breast, colorectal and oral cancers are among the most common types of cancer in Bangladesh. Raising awareness and taking necessary preventive measures at an early stage are crucial to tackling these diseases. To this end, healthcare workers involved in primary healthcare services will receive the necessary training.

The state minister made the remarks on Saturday (November 14) while addressing a national-level stakeholder consultation meeting titled “Strengthening Cancer Care Services in Bangladesh”, jointly organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organization (WHO) at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka. He attended the event as the chief guest.

Dr Muhit said the consultation meeting would serve as a milestone in formulating and implementing a national cancer policy. He added that the government had already announced plans to establish cancer hospitals in every divisional city.

Alongside these initiatives, the government will take effective measures to prevent cancer, ensure regular screening and expand access to early diagnosis, he said.

Emphasising that tackling cancer cannot be the responsibility of the Ministry of Health alone, the state minister said coordinated participation from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Food and other relevant ministries would be essential.

To ensure such coordination, the government will establish a National Cancer Control Programme and a National Cancer Control Council. These bodies will help formulate effective policies and ensure coordination among ministries in the country's cancer prevention and control efforts.

The meeting was chaired by AKM Benjamin Riazi, secretary of the Health Education Division. Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Md Anwar Hossain attended as a special guest.

Additional Secretary of the Health Services Division Sheikh Momina Moni, Director of the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital Professor Dr Mostafa Aziz Sumon, and WHO representative Dr Anthony Ashofoni were also present, among others.