Speakers at a virtual discussion on Monday said the government should now acquire the country's well-equipped private hospitals and clinics, and should combine all public and private hospitals to manage the Covid-19 pandemic.
They said the proposed budget should be considered as a budget for emergency and survival rather than a growth-oriented one.
The speakers said the government will not be able to run the wheel of the economy, keeping health risks in place.
They were speaking at a post-budget virtual discussion, organised by Unnayan Samannay.
"We can't depend on public hospitals only in the time of this pandemic. We should use private hospitals too to manage the situation," Unnayan Samannay Chairperson Dr Atiur Rahman said.
Speaking as the keynote speaker, Dr Rahman said the government should acquire well-equipped private hospitals, give them rent, and hire all doctors and staffs to fight the pandemic.
He also said the non-government organisations (NGOs), which provide healthcare facilities and community healthcare services, and rural government health networks should also participate in the process.
He noted that nobody knows when the pandemic will end, so this budget should be considered as a budget for emergency.
"The government should mobilise all funds and resources for fighting the Covid-19 outbreak, thinking the situation as war-like one."
He further said bigger allocation does not make any sense, if capability of spending and managing allocations does not increase.
"No matter how big the size of budget is, if there are spillages and leakages in the process of spending."
He opined that there is no need to be worried about GDP and development now.
"If we survive the pandemic, we can develop our country."
The former central bank governor said the government can save a lot of money, given the pandemic situation.
"Do we have to give out festival allowances to the government employees, or do we have to buy new vehicles this year?"
He also said the Tk 100-billion Covid-19 fund could be extended by social donations.
Mr Rahman said healthcare should be on the focus of national budget, not only this year but also for next three years also. A proper health policy should also be formulated to bring holistic reforms in healthcare.
He urged the government to withdraw five per cent tax on mobile phone use, and make phone use cheaper to people.
Speaking at the programme, Professor of Economics at East West University Dr A K Enamul Haque said budget allocation in healthcare will go to increasing number of doctors, nurses, technicians and staffs in recent times.
"So the increased budget in health sector will not bring much change to the current situation."
Mr Haque opined that the government should take over private hospitals and combine them with public ones to treat Covid-19 patients only. But acquiring private hospitals will not be free of cost.
"The government does not need tender for this. Acquire private hospitals, provide rent to their owners, and give salaries and allowances to doctors and staffs for managing Covid-19."
The government need not acquire all private hospitals, specialised hospitals and university hospitals.
He said Tk 100-billion fund will not be enough, Tk 600-700 billion might be needed for specialized Covid-19 treatment.
Mr Haque noted that increase in tax (in the budget) on mobile phone use came from a business attitude.
"As mobile phone and data usage have recently increased due to higher use of people, income of the government from the sector has also increased. So, the government shouldn't impose additional five per cent tax."
"It is business attitude, the decision hasn't come by thinking about Covid-19 situation," he added.
Senior Research Fellow of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) Dr Zulfiqar Ali said two-third of the country's healthcare capacity is under private sector.
He noted that all-out Covid-19 treatment will not be possible, if private sector does not join public sector.
"It is already late, we should acquire private hospitals and clinics to treat both Covid and non-Covid patients."
He also said poverty rate might increase up to 50 per cent during Covid-19 pandemic.
"So the budget should take immediate measures about it," he concluded.
Emeritus Fellow of Unnayan Samannay Khondokar Shakhawat Ali moderated the discussion.
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