The government has reiterated its commitment to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030, while pledging to gradually increase the health sector's share of the national budget to 5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Health Minister made the announcement during a discussion on health sector programs on Wednesday (November 11).
The minister stated that Bangladesh remains firmly committed to attaining universal health coverage as part of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets. He emphasized that increasing investment in the health sector is indispensable to achieving this objective.
Plans to Increase Health Budget
The government outlined its plan to raise the current health allocation as a percentage of GDP to 5 percent in a phased manner. The additional funds are intended to support infrastructure development, workforce expansion, and improvements in the quality of medical services across the country.Progress Toward Universal Health Coverage
The Health Minister highlighted Bangladesh's notable progress in expanding access to healthcare, particularly through community clinics and digital health services aimed at reaching underserved populations. He stressed the importance of sustaining these initiatives to ensure equitable healthcare delivery nationwide.Health experts have noted that increasing the health budget to 5 percent of GDP could address long-standing challenges in the sector, provided the funds are implemented through transparent planning and effective execution strategies.