Health sector is very much potential for investment, but no one is investing in this sector, the commerce minister said while inaugurating the first ever three-day international exposition of medical equipment, products and services, Medexpo-2003, at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka.

He also called the private clinic and diagnostic centre owners and doctors to put their resources together to set up good hospitals.

Citing the example of Bumrungrad Hospital in Thailand, Khosru said by providing better health care service, lots of foreign exchanges can be saved every year.

If better treatment is ensured, people will not go to neighbouring countries, he said.

He also said although the private sector health service has some good initiatives, there are lots of complaints about the diagnostic centres.

He asked the private clinic and diagnostic owners to take initiatives for self-regulation.

Regarding the demand to reduce taxes and duties on medical equipment, the minister said duties imposed on all the medical equipment are very low excepting ambulance.

President of Bangladesh Private Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association Maniruzzaman Bhuiyan said initiatives have been taken up to improve health care services.

At present, there are 705 registered private hospitals and clinics and 1500 private diagnostic centres in Bangladesh, Bhuiyan told the inauguration function.

Siemens Bangladesh Managing Director Peter E Albrich, DHL Manager (Marketing and Planning) Kazi Sayeed Faruqui and Novo Cargo Limited Managing Director SM Rahman also spoke.

Kazi Wahidul Alam, chairman of the organising committee of Medexpo-2003 and CEO of Truine Exhibition and Event Management Services (TEEMS), said the main objectives of the exposition is to make the health care service providers aware of the latest development in this arena and also to let people know what facilities are available in Bangladesh.

Apart from Bangladesh, companies and organisations from six foreign countries including India, Thailand, Singapore, Germany, Japan and the UK, are taking part in the fair.

A number of medical equipment providers, local and foreign hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, banks, insurance firms, air express and cargo handling companies are displaying their products in the 46 stalls of the exhibition, which ends on Sunday.

Medical equipment including surgical equipment, equipment for ETT, ultra-sonography, radiography, physiotherapy, infusion set, needles, and operation tables are put on display.

The exhibition is co-sponsored by Siemens, Bangladesh Private Clinic and Diagnostic Owners' Association, DHL and Novo Cargo Services Limited.

With a view to making it an annual event, the date of the next exhibition has already been announced which will be held from October 7 to 9 next year, said the CEO of TEEMS, the organiser of the exposition.

The three-day fair is open from 10am to noon only to medical professionals and trade delegates and it is open to all from noon to 8pm every day.