Ensure cost-free medicine at grassroots level: Experts

FE Team | Published: October 11, 2024 00:22:09

RANGPUR, Oct 10 (BSS): Availability of the government's cost-free anti-hypertensive medicines should be ensured at grassroots level to efficiently control hypertension-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related deaths.
The opinion came at a divisional level workshop titled "Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward" at RDRS in Rangpur city on Thursday.
The workshop was organised by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).
PROGGA's Director Md. Shahedul Alam and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova delivered presentations on hypertension control and ongoing activities towards the direction.
Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Central Committee Member of Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA) journalist Md Mahbubul Islam and Executive Director of PROGGA ABM Zubair participated in the event as discussants.
Ruhul Quddus said the number of patients with hypertension is surging exponentially in Bangladesh where the government has already started distribution of anti-hypertensive medicines through the grassroots level health facilities to control the disease.
"It is very important to ensure availability of cost-free anti-hypertensive medicine in all healthcare facilities and community clinics for common people to manage hypertension-related NCDs and deaths associated with the disease," he said.
ABM Zubair said one in every four adults in Bangladesh is suffering from hypertension.
"Although NCDs account for 70 per cent of the total deaths in Bangladesh, the government's budgetary allocation dedicated to combat NCDs is still alarmingly low and comprises only 4.2 per cent of the total health budget," Zubair mentioned.
Shahedul Alam said availability of anti-hypertensive medicines at the grassroots level along with its sustainable funding is vital to successfully deal with worrying NCDs like hypertension, prevent heart attacks and strokes and save lives.
"Simultaneously, necessary funding must be ensured for an uninterrupted supply of cost-free anti-hypertensive medicines to the government health facilities so that common people could avail those easily at their doorsteps," he said.