Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged specialist physicians to stand by the country's working class people as trusted friends in times of their sickness and grief.

She made the call while addressing the 12th convocation of the Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.

Reminding the physicians of common people's contributions to their degrees, Hasina said the nation had a lot of expectations from the specialist doctors.

"A soft touch of physicians, and their little sympathy can substantially increase the mental strength of patients," she said.

The PM expressed the hope that the physicians would dedicate themselves through their Medicare services to the welfare of the distressed and poor people, and play an effective role in bringing smile on their faces.

Hasina also mentioned the role of BCPS in improving the standard of healthcare system by creating postgraduates and specialised physicians through examinations, training, research, workshops and seminars.

In this regard, she said about 4,173 specialised physicians had so far obtained FCPS and 2,295 others got MCPS membership from the BCPS, and are serving various medical colleges and other health institutions of the country.

Highlighting various measures of her government for development of the health sector, she said a time-befitting National Health Policy had been formulated to ensure healthcare and Medicare sendees for the mass people.

She said that her government had also set up 15,600 health centres and community clinics, where around 12 crore poor people are getting healthcare services. She called upon physicians and health assistants of both public and private hospitals and institutes to come forward to maintain the trend of development.

She also handed over honorary fellowships to six senior specialist physicians and gold medals to six fellows of the BCPS for successfully passing the Fellowship Examination on Medicine and Surgery.

Besides, 16 specialist physicians from home and abroad were given fellowship, while 924 others given certificates.