, Aug. 15 -- Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday stressed the importance of a humane approach in healthcare alongside modern technology, saying doctors' empathy and respectful behaviour toward patients are essential for improving the quality of treatment.

"Technology can identify diseases, but there is no substitute for doctors' humane behaviour in reassuring patients and understanding their fear, anxiety and mental distress," he said.

The Prime Minister was speaking after inaugurating the new 500-bed building of the National Institute of Neurosciences and Hospital in Agargaon.

He also called for combining modern medical technology with skilled manpower, good governance and, importantly, empathy to build a healthcare system that ...