State Minister for Health Dr MA Muhit has said the proposed national budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year places greater emphasis on disease prevention and comprehensive healthcare reforms than on the unplanned construction of hospitals and other facilities.
Taking part in the general discussion on the proposed budget in Parliament on Sunday, the state minister said the health sector allocation had nearly doubled to Tk 69,000 crore from Tk 35,000 crore in the outgoing fiscal year.
“This huge investment is aimed not merely at constructing hospitals or bringing temporary improvements to public health, but at increasing life expectancy and enabling people to live healthy lives,” he said.
Muhit said the country's economy and healthcare system had deteriorated during what he described as the previous 15 years of misrule, making wide-ranging reforms essential. He said the budget aims to rebuild the healthcare system and establish an integrated service under which people, regardless of their financial circumstances, would receive free and easily accessible treatment.
“This budget has been designed to build an accessible, affordable and inclusive healthcare system,” he said.
The state minister said non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease and other chronic illnesses, now account for around 71 per cent of all deaths in Bangladesh. He stressed the need to improve healthcare management and adopt modern technology to make services more effective.
He also expressed concern over the cost of treatment, saying patients directly pay about 79 per cent of healthcare expenses in Bangladesh. By comparison, out-of-pocket spending accounts for around 10 per cent in Thailand and about 18 per cent in the Maldives.
“There is no plan in this budget for indiscriminate construction of hospitals and buildings,” he said.
Muhit also criticised the opposition, claiming it had not advocated reform of the health sector. He said opposition parties often spoke about reforms and the July Charter but only supported changes that would increase their share of power.
The state minister called for stronger health management, decentralised healthcare services and greater transparency and accountability in procurement.
“We will build a healthcare system where people in both urban and rural areas receive the same standard of services. Our healthcare system will be built on the foundation of primary healthcare,” he said.
Referring to the near 100 per cent increase in the health budget, Muhit said the government would place greater emphasis on preventing disease rather than treating it. “We will build a referral network (to ensure better delivery of healthcare services),” he said.
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