Dhaka, July 16, 2024 – Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Samanta Lal Sen has underscored the urgent need for targeted healthcare investments to improve health services in rural Bangladesh. Speaking at a seminar organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), Dr. Sen highlighted the severe financial impact of health expenses on the population and the necessity for decentralized medical facilities.
Rising Health Costs Push Millions into Poverty
The seminar, titled “Catastrophic Health Shocks and Impoverishment in Bangladesh,” revealed alarming findings from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2022. The survey showed that hospitalizations have forced approximately 6.13 million Bangladeshis—3.7% of the population—below the poverty line due to soaring out-of-pocket health expenses.
Dr. Sen emphasized that quality healthcare must reach the grassroots level, stating, “We must ensure proper healthcare at the grassroots level. Simply lecturing in Dhaka won’t suffice.” He advocated for establishing specialized medical facilities in every divisional city to address critical health needs locally, particularly for prevalent conditions like hypertension and diabetes observed in North Bengal.
Combating Antibiotic Misuse and Expanding UHC
To address the rampant misuse of antibiotics, Dr. Sen proposed implementing a digital prescription system to curb unauthorized sales and ensure better oversight. Additionally, he pledged to introduce Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Bangladesh, recognizing the time required to achieve this ambitious goal.
The seminar featured a detailed presentation by Abdur Razzaque Sarker on healthcare expenditure trends, revealing that Bangladeshis face the highest out-of-pocket health expenses among South Asian nations, driven largely by escalating medication costs. BIDS Director General Binayak Sen presided over the seminar, supporting Dr. Sen’s call for targeted healthcare investments.
Dr. Sen’s proactive stance highlights the pressing need for comprehensive healthcare reforms to alleviate poverty and enhance health outcomes across Bangladesh. The minister’s commitment to improving health services in rural areas and addressing financial hardships aims to create a more equitable and effective healthcare system for all Bangladeshis.
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