They also criticised the Health Ministry for “failing to propose” proper allocations for the development of the sector.
The speakers were speaking at a roundtable on national health budget 2019-20 at Jatiya Press Club.
Dr M Muzaherul Huq, former regional adviser of south-east Asia of World Health Organisation, said a nation cannot be developed without development of its heath sector.
“Poor people are deprived of budget's benefit,” he said.
Prof Dr Sharmeen Yasmeen, chairperson of Public Health Foundation, Bangladesh, said the new budget is “not people friendly”.
Dr Syed Abdul Hamid, former chairman of health economics department of DU, said the Health Ministry could not demand allocations needed for the development of the health sector.
“It’s a traditional budget. We’ve to think what the hospitals need and how the patients’ meals can be improved. These things must be considered during budget announcement. The budget allocations should be increased [for the health sector],” he added.
Aminur Rasul, coordinator of People’s Health Movement, said the government should come up with a need-based budget for development of the health sector.
“Good governance is a must. The budget allocation for the sector is not properly planned. If the health sector is not developed immediately then the youths of the country will be destroyed and the government will not be able to meet the SDG goals in time,” he added.
Dr Shafib Nahin Shimul, assistant professor of health economics department of Dhaka University, presented a keynote paper.