Hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 71% of total deaths in Bangladesh, yet only 4.2% of the total health budget is allocated to combat them.
Experts and health advocates have called for a significant increase in funding for the upcoming FY 2025-26 budget to tackle the growing prevalence of hypertension effectively.
The demand was raised at a two-day workshop titled “Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward”, on Wednesday, organized by research and advocacy group PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), the event brought together 26 journalists from print, television, and online media.
Speakers at the workshop revealed that one in four adults in Bangladesh suffers from hypertension, a major risk factor for several life-threatening NCDs.
While the government has started providing free hypertension medicine, experts stressed the need for ensuring its availability at all community clinics and upazila health complexes nationwide, backed by sustainable funding.
A 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) report highlighted that despite Bangladesh’s commitment to integrating NCD care within Primary Health Care (PHC), budgetary allocations and fund utilization remain inadequate. The report identified an uninterrupted supply of medicines as the primary challenge in managing NCDs.
Dr Md Enamul Haque, director general (additional secretary) of the Health Economics Unit (HEU), stated that increasing the budget for NCDs must be accompanied by effective fund utilization to ensure meaningful impact.
Echoing the urgency, Professor Dr Syed Abdul Hamid of Dhaka University’s Institute of Health Economics emphasized the need for enhanced public awareness, stronger screening programs, and assured availability of essential medicines in government hospitals to curb the NCD burden.
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh country lead of GHAI, stressed that ensuring anti-hypertensive medicine in all upazila health complexes and community clinics could significantly reduce hypertension prevalence.
Other discussants at the workshop included Dr. Mohammad Shawkat Hossain Khan, program manager (deputy secretary), HEU; Dr Geeta Rani Devi, program manager, Community-Based Health Care (CBHC), DGHS; Dr Md Maruf Haque Khan, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU); Morshed Noman, acting editor, Bangladesh First; Dr Tanmay Sarker, Brac James P Grant School of Public Health, Brac University; and ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA.
PROGGA’s Director Md Shahedul Alam and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova also delivered presentations on hypertension control strategies, underscoring the urgency of enhanced policy focus and budgetary support.
