Equitable access to primary healthcare challenging
UN body tells roundtable
FE REPORT | Friday, 3 May 2024
An equitable access to primary healthcare services still remains a major challenge despite some progress in the health service in Bangladesh, according to a United Nations body here.
It says the country faces a dearth of healthcare workers with only 61-per cent population having access to basic healthcare services.
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Bangladesh made the observations at a roundtable on primary healthcare challenges on Thursday.
The UNOPS Bangladesh hosted the 10th episode of "SDG Café", a monthly discussion series dedicated to addressing the pressing development challenges and co-creating innovative solutions.
Speakers at the event said the Covid-19 pandemic further underscored the importance of robust and accessible primary healthcare services.
It has laid bare disparities and vulnerabilities in the healthcare system, highlighting the urgent need for innovative approaches and collaborative efforts to strengthen primary healthcare delivery, they added.
The World Bank estimates that Bangladesh has only 0.8 doctors per 1,000 people, which is far below the WHO recommendation of 4.45 doctors per 1,000 people.
Public-health expert Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, also coordinator of the Bangladesh TA Project at the Mérieux Foundation under the French Development Agency (AFD), presented a keynote.
"We are at a pivotal moment in health care, where the convergence of innovation and dedication can reshape the landscape of primary health care in Bangladesh," said the keynoter.
As of 2022, the WB reveals, only 61 per cent of the population in Bangladesh had access to basic healthcare services, indicating a significant gap in coverage.
Communicable diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia and tuberculosis continue to pose significant challenges to public health, with non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular ailments rising, he added.
"A crucial element is strengthening bio-safety practices within healthcare facilities. This safeguards both patients and healthcare workers from infectious diseases, which are a major public-health concern in Bangladesh."