Roche Bangladesh’s policy dialogue & scientific seminar
Every year on 17 April, World Hemophilia Day is observed across the globe. This year, Roche Bangladesh organized a two-day long engagement of round-table policy dialogue and scientific seminar to spread disease awareness and how to fight Hemophilia in Bangladesh.
On the first day, a round table discussion titled, "Hemophilia and its growing burden: Need for multi-stakeholder collaboration" was organized by the Hospital Services Management of the Directorate General of Health Services and Roche Bangladesh 16 April 2023.
Roche Bangladesh Country Manager (a.i.) and Head of Finance and Compliance Mr. Md. Gazi Moin Uddin Ahmed called for collaborative approaches from all the policymakers and relevant decision-makers to come forward to address the challenges of access to prophylaxis treatment of Hemophilia patients.
Professor Dr. Mazharul Hoque, Line Director, Hospital Services Management, Directorate General of Health Services, presided over the discussion and said, "Prophylactic treatment can give hemophilia patients a beautiful and normal life." In his speech, he assured that he would do his best to ensure the treatment of the patients on his behalf.
Various modalities of Haemophilia treatment were also discussed at the event. Among the types of treatment, prophylactic treatment has ensured the best outcomes for the patients, especially when treated with Emicizumab. This treatment can give the patient a beautiful and healthy life despite of the treatment is quite expensive. The floor discussed that the annual cost of on-demand treatment is very close to prophylactic treatment. Therefore, considering the benefit to the patients, prophylaxis should be the treatment of choice.
The round-table discussion was moderated by Dr. Supriya Sarkar, Program Manager, Hospital Service Management, DGHS and Dr. Farzana Hasan, Head of Integrated Strategy and Country Medical Director of Roche Bangladesh delivered the opening speech. Mr. Md. Osman Bhuiyan, Joint Secretary (Disability), Ministry of Social Welfare; Professor Dr. Md. Salahuddin Shah, Chairman, Department of Haematology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Professor Dr. Akhil Ranjon Biswas, Head of Department, Department of Haematology & BMT Unit, Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH); Professor Dr. Jahangir Alam, Secretary General, Bangladesh Pediatric Society and Director, Bangladesh Children's Hospital and Institute; Dr. M. Morshed Zaman Mia, Head, Department of Hematology, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital; Brigadier General (Retd.) Brigadier General (Rtd.) AKM Mustafa Abedin, President, Haematology Society of Bangladesh and Mr. Md. Nurul Islam, President, Hemophilia Society of Bangladesh, were also present at the event.
On the second day, 17 April 2023, a scientific seminar titled "Redefining Management of Hemophilia with Prophylaxis" was organized by the Department of Hematology and BMT Unit, Dhaka Medical College Hospital and Hospital Services Management in collaboration with Roche Bangladesh.
The program was presided over by Professor Dr. Akhil Ranjon Biswas, Head, Department of Hematology and BMT Unit, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital. Professor Biswas presented a report on the occasion. During this time, he discussed various treatment methods for hemophilia, among which prophylaxis type treatment methods are noteworthy. This treatment can give the patient a beautiful and healthy life but the treatment is quite expensive. And so he discussed how to provide relief to his family by settling the medical expenses of the patients. He also displayed the ongoing activities and milestones of his Department and how it has overtime developed as a center of excellence.
Professor Dr. Md. Shafiqul Alam Chowdhury, Principal, Dhaka Medical College; Professor Dr. Debesh Chandra Talukder, President, Dhaka Medical College Teachers' Association; Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. A. K Md. Mustafa Abedin, President, Hematology Society of Bangladesh; Mr. Md. Nurul Islam, President, Hemophilia Society of Bangladesh; Dr. Ahmad Hossain Chowdhury, General Secretary, Dhaka Medical College Teachers' Association; Professor Dr. Salma Afrose, Former Professor of Hematology, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital; Professor Dr. Zohora Jameela, Head of Department, Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital; Professor Dr. Md. Jahidul Islam, Head of Department, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Department, Dhaka Medical College and Hospital were present as guests of honor at the scientific seminar.