Primary healthcare must take centre stage in health sector reforms, with health insurance introduced to ensure coverage for all, said speakers at an event in Dhaka on Saturday.
Strengthening secondary and emergency healthcare is equally vital, alongside granting hospitals financial autonomy to manage resources, including manpower, salaries, and allowances, they added.
Reducing out-of-pocket expenses for citizens remains a key priority. For holistic progress, NGOs, private entities, and social service organisations must be officially recognised and work in coordination with the government to bring about meaningful change. Most importantly, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) must be given due consideration, they opined.
These were the key takeaways from the national dialogue titled “Reform Pathways for Health Sector” held at the Brac Centre Auditorium in Dhaka on Saturday, to mark UHC Day 2024. The UHC Forum, a coalition of multi-skilled professionals dedicated to advancing Universal Health Coverage, hosted the event in collaboration with Brac.
The dialogue convened policymakers, health professionals, civil society members, development partners, and representatives from media to assess the current state of Bangladesh’s health sector and identify actionable reform agendas.
Md Saidur Rahman, secretary of the Health Services Division, and Dr Md Sarwar Bari, secretary of the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), attended the event as gests. Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, convener of the UHC Forum and Chairperson of Brac, delivered the welcome address and summarised the discussions during the closing session.
Panel discussions featured insights from Dr Syed A Hamid, professor at the Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka; Dr Abul Kalam Azad, former Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS); Professor Dr Liaquat Ali, member of the Health Reform Commission; Dr Naila Z Khan, member of the Health Reform Commission; and Dr Md Akramul Islam, senior Director of Brac’s Health Programme and Humanitarian Crisis Management Programme.
Md Saidur Rahman, secretary of the Health Services Division, emphasized: "We must recognise the valuable contributions of NGOs and the private sector and support their efforts so we can all work cohesively under a unified framework. Rather than assigning blame, let us focus on collaborative action. By working together, we can confidently achieve our shared goals."
Dr Md Sarwar Bari, secretary of the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division, said: "The health sector has the potential to drive progress in poverty reduction, employment, and climate resilience. As we navigate this transformative period, it is crucial to envision bold reforms or ‘think big’. However, meaningful change within the ministry often requires an external ‘push’. This ‘push’ can come from civil society, sector experts, NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders."
Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, convener of the UHC Forum and Chairperson of Brac, said: "We need to approach healthcare with a focus on multiple angles and priority areas. These include access to care and service delivery, community engagement, and the promotion of preventive health. We must prioritise quality services that are patient-centred while also addressing health finance, human resources, and the overall capacity of the health sector. These are significant challenges that need to be tackled holistically. Equally important is defining the pathway for reforms and overcoming the implementation challenges that lie ahead."
The dialogue, held on Martyred Intellectuals Day, highlighted the urgency of addressing systemic challenges in the health sector through measurable accountability, strengthened foundational systems, and the inclusion of health as a constitutional right. Participants emphasised that meaningful reforms require more than the establishment of a reform commission — they advocated for a fundamental shift in actionable priorities with a renewed sense of urgency.
