Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday urged bringing the country’s health services under a single digital framework with the launch of a national e-health platform, beginning with pilot projects in several districts.

Rahman ordered the start of the pilot phase at a meeting on integrated information technology in healthcare at his office in Tejgaon, Dhaka.

The meeting discussed the platform’s proposed structure, management and use in medical care. The government will first test the system in selected districts to assess its effectiveness, costs and potential benefits before expanding it nationwide based on the results.

The prime minister said the digital system should be designed so that ordinary people can easily benefit from it. Patients’ personal health information would be stored securely, allowing doctors and healthcare centres to access it quickly when needed.

He said personal privacy must be maintained in storing and using data. The platform should also be user-friendly, low-cost and sustainable over the long term, he said, adding that the next steps would be taken after a careful review of the pilot results.