Bangladesh is preparing for one of the most ambitious restructurings of its healthcare system promising to move specialised medical services closer to people, recruit over 100,000 health workers, modernise medical education and strengthen pharmaceutical and medical equipment industries.
The roadmap, outlined in the FY2026-27 budget, seeks to address some of the chronic weaknesses that have plagued the health sector for years: overcrowded hospitals in Dhaka, shortages of doctors and nurses in rural areas, rising out-of-pocket medical expenses and an overdependence on imported medical devices.
If implemented effectively, the reforms could significantly reshape healthcare delivery across the country.
A shift away from Dhaka-centric healthcare
Instead of forcing patients to travel to the capital for advanced treatment, every district hospital will be integrated with surrounding upazila health complexes under a new “Secondary Healthcare Unit.”
Under the proposed structure, upazila health complexes will handle most maternal, neonatal, child and reproductive healthcare services while district hospitals will provide specialised treatment and surgeries, according to budget document.
The objective is allowing patients to receive quality care near their homes while easing the overwhelming burden on tertiary hospitals in Dhaka.
For decades, thousands of patients have travelled long distances to the capital because district-level facilities often lack specialists, equipment and diagnostic services. The resulting congestion has strained both hospitals and patients’ finances.
The government believes strengthening district hospitals could reduce unnecessary referrals, lower treatment costs and improve healthcare equity.
Expanding access through private hospitals
Recognising the limitations of the public health system, the government also plans to increase collaboration with the private sector.
Under a Strategic Purchasing model, selected healthcare services will be purchased from accredited private hospitals for poor and low-income patients who face long waiting times in government hospitals.
If properly regulated, the approach could shorten waiting lists while making better use of existing private-sector capacity.
The budget also proposes converting 192 unused government properties into modern primary healthcare centres under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.
Addressing workforce shortages
Bangladesh continues to face shortages of doctors, nurses and community health workers, particularly outside major cities.
The government says recruitment has already begun for 5,000 MBBS doctors to fill long-vacant posts.
It has also launched recruitment for another 100,000 health workers, around 80 percent of whom are expected to be women to strengthen maternal and community healthcare.
Additional nursing positions have already been created, including 941 senior staff nurse posts and 947 midwife positions.
The government also plans to train 60,000 frontline workers engaged in health, nutrition and family planning services.
Modernising medical education
Medical education is also set for a major overhaul.
The existing MBBS curriculum will be redesigned using competency-based learning, integrated modular teaching, expanded clinical training and artificial intelligence-assisted medical technologies.
An expert committee under the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council has begun preparing the new curriculum, which is scheduled for implementation by 2030.
The reforms extend beyond doctors.
The government plans to strengthen nursing education through a specialised Nurse Teacher Training Centre, expand master’s programmes in government nursing colleges and introduce additional Bachelor of Science in Nursing courses.
Medical and dental students will also receive access to student loans, while talented students pursuing higher education abroad will be eligible for special bank loan facilities.
To expose future physicians to rural healthcare realities, five Residential Field Site Training centres will be established using underutilised government facilities.
Strengthening preventive healthcare
A new national nutrition programme will target child stunting and malnutrition through coordination among the health, agriculture, education, sanitation, food security and social protection sectors.
Priority areas include maternal nutrition, adolescent health, breastfeeding promotion, complementary feeding and nutrition awareness.
Meanwhile, the government says it has rebuilt momentum in immunisation following the recent measles outbreak, claiming that nearly all eligible children were vaccinated against measles and rubella within its first 100 days in office.
Affordable medicines and local production
Another major pillar of the reform agenda focuses on reducing healthcare costs through improved access to medicines.
Authorities are updating the National Essential Medicines List and preparing a modern drug policy to ensure safe, effective and affordable medicines.
The pharmaceutical sector will continue receiving government support, including development of the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Industrial Park and expansion of medicine and vaccine supply chains.
Beyond pharmaceuticals, the government wants Bangladesh to emerge as a manufacturing base for medical equipment.
The budget document identifies products such as syringes, ventilators, pulse oximeters, ECG machines, X-ray equipment, hospital beds and diagnostic kits as items with strong domestic production potential.
To encourage investment, authorities plan export incentives, internationally accredited testing laboratories, online licensing systems, a specialised medical technology park and easier access to low-interest financing.
Biomedical engineering education and research will also receive increased emphasis as the country seeks to build an export-oriented medical technology industry.