Hypertension remains a major contributor to cardiovascular disease-related deaths in Bangladesh, accounting for 52% of the estimated 283,800 cardiovascular deaths recorded in 2024. Experts have called for a significant share of the increased health budget to be allocated to controlling hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
They said inadequate funding has disrupted the regular supply of free antihypertensive medicines at Community Clinics and NCD Corners in Upazila Health Complexes, hampering efforts to control the disease at the primary healthcare level.
They stressed the need for long-term and sustainable financing to ensure effective hypertension control.
The issues were highlighted at a journalists’ workshop titled “Sustainable Financing for Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress, Barriers and the Way Forward” at the BIP Conference Room in the capital on Wednesday.
Research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) organized the workshop with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). A total of 25 journalists from print, television and online media attended.
The workshop was informed that approximately 570,263 people die from various non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh every year, accounting for nearly 71% of all deaths. Of these deaths, 19% are premature.
According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) Health and Morbidity Status Survey 2025, hypertension ranks first among the country's top 10 diseases.
Meanwhile, World Bank data show that only 4.2% of the national health budget is allocated to controlling non-communicable diseases.
Those concerned said adequate funding is needed to ensure a regular supply of medicines for chronic conditions such as hypertension and strengthen primary healthcare services.
Dr Md Enamul Haque, Director General of the Health Economics Unit, said the allocation for the health sector had increased from 5.3% to 7.4% in the current budget, which was commendable.
He said it was now essential to allocate a portion of the increased budget to hypertension control.
Zahirul Alam, Executive Director of Channel 24, said regular campaigns through mass media and social media must continue to highlight the importance of sustainable financing for hypertension control.
Ezinne Ezekwem, Associate Director, Non-communicable Diseases, GHAI; Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead, GHAI; Mortuza Haider Liton, Convener of the Anti-Tobacco Media Alliance (ATMA); and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, attended the workshop as discussants.
The thematic presentations were delivered by Hasan Shahriar, Head of Programs at PROGGA, and Samiha Bintay Kamal, Program Officer at PROGGA.
