BIMSCON 2025 showcases vision for next-gen healthcare in BD

The sixth edition of Bangladesh International Medical Students’ Scientific Congress (BIMSCON 2025) concluded in the capital on Saturday, spotlighting a new generation of medical students determined to shape the nation’s healthcare transformation through innovation, research, and policy engagement.

Held on October 10–11 at International Mother Language Institute, the two-day congress brought together more than 300 participants from over 20 medical colleges nationwide, including National institute of burn and pastic surgery, National institute of neuroscience, Ibrahim cardiac hospital, Asgar ali hospital, Centre for medical ultrasound and doppler etc.

Under the theme “Transforming Healthcare: Towards a Healthier Future,” the event was organized by the International Medical Students Empowerment Network (IMSEN) Bangladesh, in partnership with The Daily Observer. The event was chaired by Raziul Islam and co-chaired by Fahmida Jahan Anika.

The congress featured over a dozen specialized sessions spanning health policy, career development, women’s health, diabetes management, radiology, oncology, and psychiatry. Students also competed in research abstract presentations, public health case challenges, anatomy drawing contests, and CPR workshops, alongside the All Med Olympiad and Dentistry Olympiad.

International collaborators — including the International Journal of Medical Students, Youth Surgical Alliance, In4Med Congress, and ICMS Congress — joined hands with Bangladeshi participants, while partnerships with the Planetary Health Academia, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, Smart Healthcare and Research, and HAEFA added depth to the program.

Speaking at the inauguration, Professor Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser with ministerial status, cautioned that Bangladesh’s medical education system risks becoming outdated if it fails to adapt to modern technologies. “Our current healthcare education still relies on century-old philosophies. Within four years, image interpretation will become automated. If we do not evolve, we will fall behind,” he warned.

Dr Rahman underscored the need for accessibility and comprehension in medical practice, stressing that “clinical knowledge holds value only when ordinary people can understand and apply what doctors prescribe.” He called for the use of virtual reality and global digital tools to improve medical training and urged decentralisation of healthcare facilities beyond major urban hospitals. “Bangladesh is entering a transformative phase. Through your collective efforts, we can build a healthier and stronger nation,” he told the young participants.

Professor Dr Nazmul Hossain, from the Directorate General of Medical Education, noted that Bangladesh currently operates 110 medical colleges — roughly one per 500 square kilometres — but rising healthcare needs require further expansion and quality enhancement. “Internship programs bridge theory with real-world experience, shaping confident and competent physicians. The future of healthcare depends on how well we combine education, research, and service,” he said.

Keynote speaker Surgical Oncologist Professor Dr Tasnim Ara, highlighted the stark inequality in access to advanced medical care. “Those who can afford it go abroad for treatment, while others suffer without options,” she said, urging medical graduates studying overseas to return home. “Bangladesh needs your expertise. Together we can turn our country into a centre of excellence in cancer immunotherapy, cell therapy, and advanced diagnostics.”

The congress also marked the continued evolution of IMSEN Bangladesh, which originated from IFMSA Bangladesh in 2015, reflecting a broader shift toward student-led empowerment and leadership in healthcare.

The closing ceremony, chaired by National Professor AK Azad Khan, featured Dr Fateema Ashraf, and Dr Abdul Hanif Tablu.

BIMSCON 2025 concluded with a renewed commitment to equip young medical professionals with the skills, ethics, and innovation needed to lead Bangladesh’s next phase of healthcare transformation.