Govt plans comprehensive overhaul of healthcare sector, says Titumir

The government is committed to building a comprehensive national health system to address longstanding weaknesses in Bangladesh’s healthcare sector, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning Dr Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir said on Thursday.

Speaking at a discussion titled “Bangladesh Health Budget Dialogue: Priorities, Gaps and Way Forward” at the University of Asia Pacific (UAP) in Dhaka, Titumir said the country’s healthcare system has suffered years of neglect and now requires fundamental reforms to ensure accessible and quality services for all citizens.

He said the government plans to gradually raise health sector spending to 5 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), with the upcoming national budget expected to include several reform measures aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery.

Highlighting the importance of grassroots healthcare, Titumir said efforts would focus on ensuring the availability of doctors in rural areas and enhancing services at upazila health complexes. Hospital capacity will be expanded, while specialised services for women, children and physiotherapy patients will receive greater attention.

The adviser also outlined plans to modernise district-level hospitals in response to changing healthcare needs. As non-communicable and lifestyle-related diseases become more prevalent, facilities such as coronary care units and kidney dialysis centres will be introduced or expanded in district hospitals.

According to Titumir, the government’s broader goal is to establish a people-centred universal healthcare system as part of its vision of building a democratic and welfare-oriented state. Expanding the healthcare workforce through the recruitment of doctors, nurses and other professionals will be a key component of this effort.

He also pointed to persistent challenges in the sector, including high out-of-pocket healthcare costs, shortages of hospital beds and medicines, and inadequate treatment facilities, which often force patients to seek expensive medical care abroad.

The event was organised by the Department of Business Administration of UAP and brought together academics, policymakers and healthcare experts to discuss budget priorities and reform strategies for the sector.