Thrust on need-based budget allocation in health sector

Speakers at a roundtable on Tuesday emphasised need-based allocation in the national budget for the health sector, reports UNB.

They also criticised the Health Ministry for "failing to propose" proper allocations for the development of the sector.

The speakers were speaking at a roundtable on national health budget 2019-20 at Jatiya Press Club in the city.

Dr M Muzaherul Huq, former regional adviser of South-East Asia for World Health Organisation, said a nation cannot be developed without development of its heath sector.

"Poor people are deprived of budget's benefit," he said. Prof Dr Sharmeen Yasmeen, chairperson of Public Health Foundation, Bangladesh, said the new budget is "not people friendly".

Dr Syed Abdul Hamid, former chairman of health economics department of DU, said the Health Ministry could not demand allocations needed for the development of the health sector.