en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Bangladeshi government has introduced a healthcare reform package, encompassing a record health budget, universal digital health cards, large-scale staff recruitment, and the construction of new specialized hospitals, aimed at expanding access to affordable medical services.
According to the proposed national budget for fiscal year 2026-27, the allocation for the health sector has nearly doubled, increasing from Tk 354.77 billion in the revised budget of the previous fiscal year to Tk 694.09 billion. This allocation accounts for approximately 1.01% of the country's GDP. Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, when presenting the budget to parliament on June 11, described healthcare investment as the cornerstone of human resource development and national prosperity.
The core of this reform is a shift from a treatment-centric medical model towards prevention, early diagnosis, and community services. The government plans to establish modern primary healthcare units in every union and urban constituency nationwide. Each unit will be supported by community clinics and trained health workers, providing preventive care, maternal and child health services, nutritional support, and basic primary treatment. Officials believe this initiative will alleviate pressure on hospitals, improve healthcare accessibility in underdeveloped areas, and reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses for citizens.
Expanding the healthcare workforce is a key focus of the reform. The government announced the immediate recruitment of 5,000 MBBS doctors to fill vacancies, alongside plans to hire 100,000 health workers, approximately 80% of whom are expected to be women. The government has also created hundreds of new nursing and midwifery positions to support related services.
Digital transformation occupies a central position in the health strategy. Under the proposed universal health coverage framework, each citizen will gradually receive a digital health card linked to an integrated patient management and referral system. This platform will enable healthcare providers to access a patient's treatment history, diagnostic records, and prescriptions from any medical facility nationwide. Health experts believe this system could improve continuity of care, reduce duplication of medical procedures, and strengthen accountability within the healthcare network.
The reform also addresses medical education and human resource development. A modern, competency-oriented MBBS curriculum is expected to be introduced by 2030, integrating artificial intelligence and advanced clinical training methods. Authorities state that the reform aims to produce doctors capable of meeting future healthcare challenges and align medical education with international standards. The government also plans to provide student loans and bank loan facilities for medical and dental students, and establish a special funding scheme for students pursuing studies abroad. Additionally, authorities announced plans to upgrade teaching buildings, laboratories, libraries, dormitories, and training facilities at government medical colleges nationwide.
The budget includes measures to reduce treatment costs for patients with chronic diseases. Eliminating taxes and value-added tax on cardiac stents, dialysis filters, and several other critical medical products will ease the financial burden on patients. Officials estimate that the price of cardiac stents could decrease by Tk 20,000, and the cost per dialysis session could drop by approximately Tk 800. Healthcare analysts view these measures as a significant step towards reducing out-of-pocket expenses.
Among ongoing projects, the operationalization of five specialized children's hospitals in Khulna, Barisal, Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Comilla is a priority, each with 200 beds. According to the Ministry of Health, these hospitals are expected to become operational within the next six months, equipped with intensive care units, central air conditioning systems, and advanced diagnostic facilities. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain stated that these facilities will provide specialized treatment closer to patients' homes, reducing the need for long-distance travel for families.
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