On Thursday (November 5) noon, at the conference room of Super Specialized Hospital, speaking as chief guest at the stakeholder meeting of a five-year research project titled 'Affordable Cardiac Rehabilitation: Integrated Strategic Advocacy Research', he said that 67 percent of total deaths in the country occur due to non-communicable diseases, with heart disease at the top as a single cause. According to the 2022 national survey, 21 percent of total deaths are due to heart disease complications.

He said exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation reduces the risk of subsequent heart attack and hospital readmission and improves patients' quality of life. Not only clinical treatment, but mental health crises including anxiety and depression among patients after a heart attack must also be given importance. The treatment system must be affordable, easily accessible, and compatible with local realities.

The state minister further said the research results should not be confined to laboratories or journals but transformed into grassroots-level policy. The current government has ensured the highest budget allocation in the health sector. This research will build international-standard capacity among young researchers, and Bangladesh will get a sustainable direction in cardiac rehabilitation.

At the meeting, the keynote paper was presented by the principal investigator of the research and Professor at the University of Glasgow, Rod S Taylor. National Professor Dr. A K Azad Khan, Professor Dr. Mohammad Sohiuddin and Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University Professor Dr. F M Siddiqui also spoke. Professor J M A Hannan presided over the meeting.