Sangsad Bhaban, July 13 -- Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain on Monday alleged that poorly planned medical equipment imported during the previous government is ending up in scrap shops while remaining unused in their original packaging, blaming years of mismanagement and corruption for the country's fragile healthcare system.

"The health sector had been severely neglected over the past 17 years due to authoritarian rule, misgovernance, corruption and disregard for public welfare," the Minister said while speaking in parliament during the question and answer session replying to a supplementary question from Jamaat-e-Islami reserved seat MP Sabikun Nahar.

"Unplanned medical equipment was imported, much of which...