Public health experts on Sunday pinpointed budget cuts, poor service and a fall in foreign funds as roadblocks facing Bangladesh in gaining sustainable goals by 2030.
Less public spending on health service means less care for commoners as their private medical costs are on the up year on year, they said.
To overcome this situation, they suggested a gradual rise in allocation alongside strengthening general tax-based public health system.
They also highlighted the need to closely monitor the functioning of the healthcare system.
The experts made the observations and recommendations at a plenary session on healthcare financing on the last day of the two-day Bureau of Economic Research (BER) Conference for Economists 2019.
BER and Dhaka University economics department co-hosted the event under the theme 'Inclusive growth for sustainable development' at the institution's Muzaffar Ahmed Chowdhury Auditorium.
Prof Dr Rumana Huque of economics chaired the function.
Prof Dr Syed Abdul Hamid of Institute of Health Economics (IHE) presented a paper on 'Health Care Financing in Bangladesh: Challenges and Opportunities'.
The keynoter said Bangladesh's per-capita health expenditure is the lowest among India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, the Maldives and Pakistan.
Health service division secretary Md Ashadul Islam, IHE founder director Dr Sushil Ranjan Howlader and World Bank economist (health financing) Dr Shakil Ahmed were panellists at the event.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Huque said it is a matter of grave concern that the government's share of expenditure and budget in this sector is declining.
Donor funds for health care are also shrinking. People would be the ultimate sufferers if their out-of-pocket payments increase gradually, she added.
At the event, Mr Islam admitted that the government is still short of capacity and has a problem in delivering health services to the people.
He turned the spotlight on the need for good governance at public hospitals to ensure full medicare.
The secretary also laid emphasis on a private-public initiative to give important services like cleanliness and others to patients.
He said the need-based allocation of resources, especially medicine, is a priority of the government.
Dr Howlader said sub-district and district-level public hospitals should be improved to ensure health care for the poorer segment of society.
Health budget should be 9.0 per cent of the total fiscal budget as it is only 4.91 per cent for fiscal year 2019-20, he added. Health insurance is needed but the country is not fully geared up for the system right now, Dr Howlader cited.
Dr Ahmed said health officials are still lacking in knowledge of public financial management.
Limited delegation of authority to local-level staff for spending budget is also hampering health service, he observed.
Dr Ahmed also stressed the need for adequate training and financial management guidelines to this end.
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