Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday urged physicians, particularly those working at the grassroots level, to take a leading role in developing a healthcare system that is accessible, affordable and humane for all citizens.
Addressing the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers (UHFPO) Conference-2026 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka, the Prime Minister outlined the government’s plan to increase health sector spending to 5 per cent of GDP.
He said achieving a people-oriented and effective healthcare system would require collective efforts from both the government and medical professionals.
Highlighting the importance of grassroots healthcare providers, he said they are central to transforming the vision of a healthy nation into reality. He called on doctors to turn their respective workplaces into model healthcare centres and ensure better service delivery at the local level.
More than 500 health officers from across the country attended the conference, organised by the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The Prime Minister also presented awards to top-performing officers in six categories.
He stressed that the government alone cannot ensure comprehensive healthcare services and urged doctors to actively support national efforts. Even small contributions from individuals, he said, could collectively bring meaningful change.
The Prime Minister announced plans to recruit around 1 lakh new health workers, with 80 per cent of the positions reserved for women, as part of efforts to strengthen the workforce.
Drawing on international experience, he referred to the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, noting that even well-established systems face challenges despite strong economic backing and smaller populations.
He acknowledged the difficulties faced by healthcare workers, especially in rural areas, and assured them that the government is committed to addressing structural gaps, manpower shortages, and improving working conditions.
The Prime Minister also emphasised preventive healthcare, calling it a key priority, and pledged to modernise upazila health complexes with technology-based services.
He urged officials to ensure transparency, reduce corruption and strengthen services, such as vaccination, maternal health and disease prevention to build a more accountable healthcare system.
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