The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the healthcare sector's vulnerability in Bangladesh in terms of weak governance, shortages of professionals and poor control over the private sector.
According to a keynote presented during a webinar on Saturday, limited budgetary allocation, poor research and weak community involvement are to blame for this poor state of the health sector.
Dr Mushtaque Chowdhury, former vice-chair of BRAC and Professor of Population and Family Health at the USA's Columbia University, was the keynoter.
The paper was presented during the programme styled 'Covid-19 and the Future of Healthcare Systems for Bangladesh' hosted by the Bangladesh Unnayan Parishad (BUP) and the Bangladesh Health Watch.
Former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr M Farashuddin chaired the seminar where Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation chairman Dr Qazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad, BUP executive director Dr Nilufar Banu and economist Hannan Begum spoke.
In his keynote, Mr Chowdhury said the ongoing Covid-19 situation has exposed the country's healthcare sector's weaknesses.
Although Bangladesh has made good progress in different areas as part of its economic goals like reducing infant mortality rate, the country needs to focus more on the healthcare sector.
Mentioning Cambodia's success in checking the spread of Covid-19, the keynoter said Bangladesh has been missing a whole society approach.
He underscored the need for universal healthcare coverage (UHC).
"Give UHC to Bangladeshis on the occasion of Mujib Borsho and the Golden Jubilee of our independence," he exhorted the government.
Dr Kholiquzzaman said the budgetary allocation for the healthcare sector is still lower than required.
Bangladesh has made good progress in some economic indicators and social progress like extended life expectancy, but it needs to improve in issues like malnutrition, he suggested.
Dr Kholiquzzaman also drew the government's attention to materialise its electoral manifesto, unveiled during the last national election, through enhancing the healthcare system.
Dr Farashuddin said Bangladesh needs to introduce UHC and community involvement in ensuring the welfare of its population.
"I've participated in multiple seminars in recent times where experts have laid emphasis on UHC," he cited.
Recognising the need to ensure good governance, he said several scandals have taken place in the sector in terms of purchase, which indicates poor governance.
About the ongoing Covid-19 situation, Dr Farashuddin also reiterated the need for maintaining health guidelines to help prevent the spread of deadly virus.
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