Public health experts have suggested the upcoming elected government prioritise primary healthcare services and universal health coverage (UHC) as the health-sector reform commission formed by the interim government dissatisfied them.
They made the suggestion at a policy dialogue titled "Priority Health Reform Action Agenda: Bangladesh Road to Universal Health Coverage" and held at Dhaka Reporters Unity on Thursday.
The event was organised by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) in partnership with UHC Forum, as well as with support from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum.
Representatives from political parties, academia, government, civil society, development partners, and media attended it.
The discussion focused on translating the emerging reform consensus into concrete actions, particularly in light of the policy window created following the 2024 political transition.
A presentation titled "Advancing Universal Health Coverage: Bangladesh Health Sector Reform Roadmap" was given by Md Aminul Hasan, member secretary of the UHC Forum.
He underscored the importance of political commitment in reducing financial hardship.
Dr Zahirul Islam Shakil, secretary general of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), said, "We continue to say that healthcare will reach people's doorsteps, but in reality, many people cannot even access services at the upazila or union level."
"The health sector reform commission made clear recommendations, but those have not been implemented."
He emphasised the need for improvements in diagnostic capacity, primary health insurance, promotion structures, and medical education, noting that doctor shortages at primary facilities and weak service availability undermined the credibility of reform commitments.
Dr AKM Waliullah, senior vice president of the National Doctors Forum (NDF), stressed the importance of cross-party cooperation and legal reforms to support systemic changes.
"We are not here as opponents. Regardless of who comes to power, as professionals, we must support and critique each other constructively to reform the health sector."
Dr Syed Umar Khyyam, president of the Public Health Association of Bangladesh, said promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative care was interconnected, but the existing system remained overwhelmingly focused on treatment.
Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of PPRC and convenor of the UHC Forum, emphasised the need for a patient-centric health system that moved beyond a narrow curative focus to include prevention and overall wellbeing, particularly in the context of an incoming government.
He urged political parties, including the BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, to ensure the health sector was a priority.
Besides, he urged to make school health services a priority across Bangladesh and include it in the political agenda.
"Life expectancy has increased, but elderly people live with various diseases in their later years. If we ignore health, it will affect the economy and more people will fall below the poverty line." He described establishing universities and medical colleges in every district as a wrong political symptom.
Rahman said there should be a 100-day plan after the new government's formation through the February elections.
Health experts said if the number of medical colleges was an indicator of the quality of the health sector or healthcare services, Bangladesh would be number one.
They also said Bangladesh had the highest number of such facilities in the world.
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