Staff Reporter :
Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday said that the budget for health sector in Bangladesh is lower than other countries.
“At present the allocation for health sector in the National Budget is low compared to many other countries,” the Health Minister made the remark while addressing the celebration event of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2019 as chief guest at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.
He said, “We will take initiatives to have the allocation increased.”
The UHC Day is initiated to create awareness among all relevant stakeholders to design action plans to guarantee health as a right, not a privilege.
Health Minister stressed the need for a multisectoral approach for achieving the Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Health Services Division Secretary Md Ashadul Islam presided over the event.
Medical Education and Family Welfare Secretary Sheikh Yusuf Harun, HEU Director General Dr Shahadat Hossain Mahmud and WHO Country Representative Dr Bardan Jung Rana, among others, were present.
Besides, Professor Syed Abdul Hamid from Dhaka University; Dr Md Aminul Hasan, Director (Hospital), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr Md Nurul Amin, Director (Research), HEU; Farzana Akhter from WHO Bangladesh and Dr Mohammad Sabbir Haidar from DGHS have presented point-based keynotes in the event.
According to WHO, UHC means that people from all stages have access to health services they need always and everywhere without any barriers. The day also highlighted establishing strong, equitable health systems that leave no one behind.
This year’s theme of the day is “Keep the Promise.”
The speakers said that, the government is implementing pilot project – Shasthyo Shuroksha Karmasuchi – in three upazilas of Tangail. Around 85,600 households below poverty line are receiving inpatient services for 78 diseases free of cost.
They also underlined that the Maternal Health Voucher Scheme (MHVS) for ensuring safe delivery of poor mothers is in operation in 55 upazilas.
The speakers also highlighted inadequate public investment to health sector; double burden of diseases; inefficiency in resource allocation and utilization; low financial risk protection; shortage of skilled human resources in public and private sectors; unregulated private sector and unsatisfactory quality of health services.
