Outlining plans to raise health sector allocation to 5 percent of GDP, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday urged physicians working at the grassroots to lead efforts to build an accessible, affordable, effective and humane healthcare system.
“You are the main drivers in turning our dream of a healthy nation into reality. We together with all want to build a healthcare system that is accessible, affordable, effective and humane for everyone,” he said while addressing Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers (UHFPO) Conference-2026 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka.
The Prime Minister said he firmly believes that the physicians will be able to establish an accountable, sustainable and people-centric health service.
“We expect each of you to turn your respective workplaces into model healthcare service centres in your own areas,” he told the health officerrs .
The Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organised the conference.
Over 500 UHFPOs from across the country participated in the event where the Prime Minister also handed over awards to the best-performing officers in six categories.
The Prime Minister said the ideas he presented reflect the government’s manifesto, plans and overall vision for the health sector.
Tarique stressed that the government alone cannot achieve everything and called for active cooperation from healthcare professionals.“The government cannot do it alone. We need your support. Everyone has to come forward,” he said.
The Prime Minister said even small, collective efforts can bring meaningful change. “I am not saying one person will do everything. But if all of us contribute a little, change will surely come. If people in other countries can do it, we can do it too,” he added.
Urging doctors to stand beside people, he said, “As a citizen of this country, I request you to support the government and the people so that they can to receive at least basic healthcare services without difficulty.”
Reassuring the health professionals, the Prime Minister said the government is committed to addressing their challenges and improving the overall system.
He said the government plans to recruit 100,000 new health workers, 80 percent of whom will be women.
He urged all healthcare officials to work together with dedication to strengthen public health services and ensure better care for citizens across the country.
Sharing his personal experience, the Prime Minister referred to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (National Health Service), widely known as NHS, to highlight the challenges of running a universal healthcare system.
He noted that the NHS, established in 1948, has been serving people for around 75 years in a country that is economically stronger and has a much smaller population than Bangladesh.
“Even then, the UK government often struggles to manage the system and ensure services for all, with frequent discussions about increasing budgets and support,” he said.
Drawing the comparison, he said it is natural for Bangladesh’s healthcare system to face challenges and acknowledged that doctors working at the grassroots often encounter various difficulties in delivering services.
The Prime Minister appreciated that the participants raised their problems during the conference, calling it a constructive and necessary step.
He, however, reminded the doctors that they are all part of the same country and society and understand the realities on the ground.
Tarique said the government is working to ensure healthcare as a basic right, guided by the principle that prevention is better than cure.
The Prime Minister also pledged to improve the dignity, safety and living standards of healthcare workers.
The Prime Minister said steps will be taken to address structural and manpower shortages in the health sector and to modernise upazila health complexes with technology-based services.
He stressed the need to build a corruption-free and accountable healthcare system and called on officials to play an active role in local-level leadership, vaccination, maternal health and disease prevention.