[🇧🇩] Healthcare Industry in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Developing advanced healthcare facilities at home

With fewer than one hospital bed available per 1,000 patients and still fewer doctors to attend them, the need for more hospital beds and healthcare professionals in the country has been a long-felt demand. Yet, progress in this important sector has been limited so far. That explains why before the

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Developing advanced healthcare facilities at home

Published :
Jan 20, 2026 23:04
Updated :
Jan 20, 2026 23:04

With fewer than one hospital bed available per 1,000 patients and still fewer doctors to attend them, the need for more hospital beds and healthcare professionals in the country has been a long-felt demand. Yet, progress in this important sector has been limited so far. That explains why before the July 2024 uprising, a large number of people would visit only India every year and spend worth around half a billion US dollar for treatment purpose. In this way, huge sums of hard-earned foreign currencies would be spent outside the country. If hospitals with advanced treatment facilities could be made available within the country, then the number of outbound patients could be significantly reduced and, at the same time, a lot of foreign currency could be saved. So, Bangladesh cannot waste any opportunity to strengthen and expand its domestic capacity to serve the growing number of patients across the country. Against this backdrop, the report that the proposed 1000-bed Bangladesh-China Friendship Hospital to be set up in the northern district of Nilphamari, which is part of a series of China-funded healthcare projects to be built in the country, is now in an advanced stage of planning and approval is no doubt a welcome development.

A report carried in this newspaper recently informs that the proposed hospital project is being reviewed by the relevant government body for its finalisation. Fund worth Tk22.2 billion has been earmarked for the project as China grant. An additional amount from the government's own sources will also, as reported, go into implementation of the project. Once complete, the hospital would serve around 3,000 people, while its capacity will allow admission of 1,000 patients every day. What is further gratifying about the proposed hospital project is that, as planned, consulting fees for both outpatients and inpatients would be affordable for the common people. However, the cost of especialised services would be somewhat higher, but still within the affordable limit. Notably, the Nilphamari district and the greater Rangpur division of which it is a part, is a less developed region of the country. From that perspective, the implementation of such a large healthcare facility will be of immense service to the region with a population of over 1.7 million. Considering the range of the general and advanced specialised healthcare services the hospital would offer, it will obviously be able to draw medical service-seekers from other parts of the country as well as from abroad. Add to this the medical tourism and all the related activities the project is going to generate. So, it is not purely healthcare service as such, a large-scale project of this type can help initiate multiple economic activities that can create employment opportunities for the local population.

In that case, the general expectation is that sooner the paperwork for the project is completed and activities for the physical infrastructure started, the better for the public. More such collaborative healthcare facilities are required to be established in the country. The country has numerous privately-run hospitals fitted with advanced medical technologies, many of which boast highly paid specialist doctors working on contract from abroad. But only affluent section of society can afford their service. So, building more such expensive private hospitals won't be in the interest of the common people.

Hopefully, foreign-financed hospital projects like the China-backed one in Nilphamari would go a long way in meeting the demand gap for low-cost but advanced healthcare service in the country.​

 

[Saif]

Inefficiency, poor planning waste 80% of health budget

Bangladesh’s healthcare system has become capable of meeting the majority of domestic demand, but chronic mismanagement and poor planning are draining nearly four-fifths of the sector’s public spending, according to AM Shamim, general secretary of the Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic and...

www.thedailystar.net

Inefficiency, poor planning waste 80% of health budget
Says a leader of private hospital and clinic owners’ association

10 February 2026, 00:00 AM
Jagaran Chakma and Tuhin Shubhra Adhikary

Bangladesh’s healthcare system has become capable of meeting the majority of domestic demand, but chronic mismanagement and poor planning are draining nearly four-fifths of the sector’s public spending, according to AM Shamim, general secretary of the Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association.

In a recent interview with The Daily Star, he argued that the country has reached a point of functional self-reliance in healthcare delivery, even as deep structural flaws continue to threaten efficiency, accountability and public trust.

Shamim, also the managing director of Labaid Group, one of the country’s largest private healthcare providers, said that over the past two decades, the health sector in Bangladesh has expanded in terms of both infrastructure and workforce, with the private sector now providing close to two-thirds of all health services.

The gains, however, he said, are being blunted by wastage, regulatory dysfunction and weak governance.

The Labaid MD pointed to the sharp fall in outbound medical travel as one of the indicators of the system’s growing capacity.

Caption AM Shamim

He claimed that medical visas to India, once routine for Bangladeshi patients seeking treatment, have fallen to a tenth of their previous levels over the past 18 months.

Despite this drop, he said, the local healthcare system has faced no major disruption, reflecting its growing capacity to meet domestic demand.


Where Dhaka Medical College Hospital once served as the default option for emergencies, private hospitals such as Square and Labaid are increasingly becoming the first choice for patients seeking timely and specialised care, he said.

Shamim noted that this progress masks a disturbing reality.

“Our national health budget stands at around Tk 42,000 crore. But nearly 80 percent of that is wasted. Equipment that isn’t needed is purchased, while the ones we do need often sit idle and unused,” he said.

The problem is not a lack of resources but their deployment. For instance, he said at Labaid Cancer Hospital, two linear accelerator (LINAC) machines deliver radiotherapy to between 160 and 220 patients a day.

In contrast, he emphasised, “government cancer hospitals have 8-12 LINAC machines, yet they treat fewer patients. That’s not a technical issue -- it’s purely a matter of management.”

Red tape compounds the dysfunction. Noting that there were once around 17,500 licensed hospitals and diagnostic centres, he said that number has now dropped to just 3,000 hospitals and 7,000 diagnostic centres.

“To set up a hospital, you need approvals from at least 18 different agencies, ranging from fire services, the Department of Environment, narcotics control, boiler inspection, generator compliance, and more,” he said.

“The main issue is that licenses remain valid for just one year. By the time one agency completes its inspection, the year is already over. This opens the door for delays, bribes, and inefficiencies,” he added.

The government extended the licence validity to two years last month. But Shamim warned that the underlying problems remain.

He proposed several fixes, including a unified licensing system that would consolidate approvals under a single authority.

Besides, he called for a national accreditation programme, modelled on India’s NABH and NABL systems, which would grade hospitals from A to C based on beds, staff, equipment and services, weeding out substandard establishments.

Public-private partnerships could revive nearly 80 idle public healthcare facilities, leveraging the private sector’s proven ability to attract talent, he added, noting that two-thirds of Bangladesh’s 70,000 physicians and three-quarters of its 26,000 nurses work privately.

“This proves that public and private healthcare are complementary, not competitors,” said the general secretary of the owners’ association.

Shamim acknowledged that the private sector has its own failings. “Many doctors do not spend enough time with patients and often fail to provide adequate counselling.”

He suggested regulations on consultation lengths and daily patient loads.

He also urged the media to play a more balanced role. “Take the example of primary angioplasty after a heart attack. Worldwide, 9 out of 10 patients survive. But when that one patient dies, it makes headlines, overshadowing the success of the other nine.”

But at the end of the day, the fundamental challenge remains governance.

“People may survive skipping a meal, but they cannot function without proper treatment,” Shamim said. “It’s time we nurture and invest in this sector with the seriousness it deserves.”

Restoring public confidence in healthcare requires coordinated effort among the government, private sector, and media, he said.

“We (the private healthcare sector) are not an opposition of the government, or the people. We are part of the same system. If we work together, we can build a truly healthy Bangladesh.”​

 

[Saif]

Healing the health sector: A daunting challenge

The country's health sector has long been languishing due to chronic under-funding, weak governance and systemic inefficiencies, posing a formidable challenge to the new government as it seeks to honour its electoral commitments. Beyond fulfilling ambitious campaign pledges, the administration's fo

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Healing the health sector: A daunting challenge

FE
Published :
Feb 26, 2026 23:35
Updated :
Feb 26, 2026 23:35

The country's health sector has long been languishing due to chronic under-funding, weak governance and systemic inefficiencies, posing a formidable challenge to the new government as it seeks to honour its electoral commitments. Beyond fulfilling ambitious campaign pledges, the administration's foremost task is to revitalise a sector that has, in many respects, underperformed for years. Without bold reforms and sustained political will, meaningful progress will remain elusive. Health experts point out that years of underfunding, fragile stewardship and repeated service disruptions have left the system ill-equipped to meet rising and evolving demands. The burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular ailments and cancer has grown steadily, yet preventive and early detection programmes remain inadequate. Public hospitals frequently experience medicine supply disruptions, undermining patient trust and forcing many to seek costly private care. Chronic shortages of doctors, nurses and trained technicians - particularly in rural and remote areas - further weaken service delivery. Compounding these problems, insufficient and poorly prioritised funding has slowed the momentum of critical public health initiatives.

One of the most persistent concerns has been the Ministry of Health's inability to effectively implement the Annual Development Plan (ADP). Year after year, underutilisation of allocated funds and delays in project execution have hampered infrastructure expansion, equipment procurement and service upgrades. Given the centrality of ADP-funded projects to improving healthcare facilities and expanding access, such repeated underperformance raises serious questions about planning capacity, coordination and accountability within the ministry.

In its election manifesto, the BNP has pledged to pursue the vision of "Health for All" and move decisively towards universal health coverage. Among its headline promises, one is an increase in health expenditure to 5.0 per cent of GDP - a transformative target. Currently, however, health allocation in the FY2025-26 budget stands at only 0.67 per cent of GDP, far below the international benchmarks and insufficient to address mounting needs. Bridging this vast gap will require not only increased budgetary allocations but also improved financial management to ensure that funds are spent efficiently and transparently. The manifesto also outlines an ambitious expansion of primary healthcare infrastructure, proposing one primary healthcare unit in every rural union and at least one in each urban ward, along with modern secondary healthcare facilities in every district. It also promises the recruitment of 100,000 health workers, 80 per cent of them women, signalling a commitment to gender inclusion and grassroots service delivery. Strengthening maternal and child healthcare services is prioritised, recognising the endemic vulnerabilities in these areas. Additionally, public-private partnerships are envisaged for complex and high-cost treatments such as trauma care from road-traffic injuries, stroke management, cardiac care, renal failure and cancer treatment.

Given the enormity of existing challenges, a comprehensive overhaul of the sector is urgently required - one that strengthens governance, ensures timely medicine procurement, digitises health records and enhances monitoring mechanisms. Investments must be matched by reforms that promote accountability and curb wastage. If the government can align its ambitious vision with time-bound strategies, the long-neglected health sector may finally embark on a course of sustainable progress.​

 

[Saif]

5pc of GDP will be allocated for health sector in phases: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said five percent of GDP will be allocated to the health sector in phases to make the healthcare system for every people. In a message on the eve of World Health Day 2026, he also said preventive healthcare activities will be expanded along with quality medical se

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

5pc of GDP will be allocated for health sector in phases: PM

BSS

Published :
Apr 06, 2026 17:24
Updated :
Apr 06, 2026 17:24

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said five percent of GDP will be allocated to the health sector in phases to make the healthcare system for every people.

In a message on the eve of World Health Day 2026, he also said preventive healthcare activities will be expanded along with quality medical services including comprehensive maternal and child healthcare in both urban and rural areas.

He said one lakh healthcare workers will be recruited in phases and 80 percent of them will be women.

The premier said his government plans to introduce e-health cards for every citizen, ensure rapid and quality treatment for chronic and multifactorial diseases through public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives.

The government will implement necessary reforms to improve service quality and keep treatment costs affordable, introduce and gradually expand health insurance, strengthen medical education and research, and enact fair laws for both service providers and recipients, he said.

“To achieve these goals, five percent of GDP will be allocated to the health sector in phases,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said with a commitment to building a healthy and safe world for our future generations, World Health Day 2026 will be observed tomorrow in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world with the theme “Together for Health, Stand with Science”.

He said human beings, animals, and the environment—these three components are closely interconnected as the safety and well-being of one is dependent on others.

Therefore, protection of all forms of life is a demand of the time, he said adding that this is the concept of ‘One Health,’ which emphasizes not only human well-being but also the health of surrounding living beings and the environment.

To achieve this goal, it is essential to ensure research and use of sustainable technologies by integrating medical science, agricultural science, veterinary science, and environmental science, he said.

The prime minister said the rapid advancement of science worldwide has created unprecedented opportunities and possibilities in healthcare. Particularly in Bangladesh, there is no alternative to use of technology to ensure sustainable, quality, and equitable healthcare services for marginalized people, he said.

The premier said innovations, applications, and expansion of technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) must be encouraged to ensure fast and accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Tarique Rahman said his government believes that ‘Prevention is better than Cure.’ Based on that principle of ‘Health for All,’ this government is committed to ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare services for everyone within the existing system of a developed welfare-oriented state, he said.

“Healthcare is not a privilege; it is a fundamental human right,” he said urging all to fulfill their responsibilities with honesty, dedication, and sincerity to help build a healthy and strong nation.

He also extended sincere greetings and congratulations to everybody of the health sector and wished all success of all programs of the day.​

 

[Saif]

Urban healthcare to turn a corner

That health authorities have finally proposed building 170 city health centres across Dhaka and Chattogram is a piece of welcome news, though it speaks of how badly the urban poor have been let down for decades. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under a project estimated at Tk 11.57

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Urban healthcare to turn a corner

FE
Published :
Apr 12, 2026 00:14
Updated :
Apr 12, 2026 00:14

That health authorities have finally proposed building 170 city health centres across Dhaka and Chattogram is a piece of welcome news, though it speaks of how badly the urban poor have been let down for decades. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under a project estimated at Tk 11.57 billion and largely financed by the World Bank plans to establish these centres across Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chattogram City Corporation over the next three years, with each ward receiving at least one primary healthcare facility operating in two shifts. The proposal, awaiting ECNEC approval after missing the last meeting's formal agenda, comes against a backdrop that is frankly embarrassing. Nearly 40 per cent of the country's population now lives in urban areas, up from 27 per cent in 2011, and Dhaka alone is projected to hold 28 million people by 2030. Yet across all urban areas under the health ministry, only 35 government dispensaries exist, 17 of them in Dhaka and nine in Chattogram and most of them are shut down by midday. The state has been, in effect, running a healthcare system designed to be left unused.

Most of Dhaka's working poor do not have the freedom to visit a government dispensary before noon, which is the only time one is open. A garment worker or a day labourer cannot afford to visit a facility at a fixed hour but a centre if it remains open for two shifts gives them the flexibility to choose when they can visit. The same is true for a woman in a conservative household who depends on a working husband to accompany her. Similar is the case of an elderly person who may have no one at home once family members leave for work. The predictable result is that they crowd into private clinics and spend money they cannot afford, self-medicate through pharmacies or simply suffer through illness until the condition worsens. The two-shift model built into the proposal addresses this directly, and the placement of at least one centre in every ward further reduces the problem of distance. There is also the matter of cost. Millions of people pushed into expensive private care are an economic drain on households. The project's own economic analysis puts the net present value of the investment at 316 million dollars, with a nine per cent internal rate of return. Primary healthcare is thus an economic imperative as much as a social one.

What also separates this proposal from previous efforts is the ambition of its design. Urban healthcare in Bangladesh has historically been a tangle of jurisdictions, with responsibilities fragmented across institutions that coordinate poorly and leave patients without any coherent pathway from a primary consultation to specialist care. The network linking the new centres with referral facilities attempts to address this tangle. The Planning Commission has rightly insisted on a memorandum of understanding with the Local Government Division before project approval, which makes coordination a formal requirement from the outset.

What remains is the question of execution. ECNEC approval should come at the next meeting without the proposal being tabled or deferred again, and implementation timelines must be treated as a firm commitment rather than a tentative projection. The monitoring mechanism promised within the project needs to be credible, independent and open to public scrutiny, with regular reporting that allows performance to be judged in real time. More importantly, those responsible for implementation cannot be allowed to bypass findings about understaffing, medicine shortages or absenteeism without consequence, as these are failures that have undone so many public facilities in this country before.​