United News of Bangladesh

State Minister for Health Dr MA Muhit on Sunday said the proposed national budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year prioritises disease prevention and comprehensive reforms in the healthcare sector rather than the unplanned construction of buildings and hospitals. “This huge investment is aimed not merely at constructing hospitals or bringing temporary improvements to public health, but at increasing life expectancy and enabling people to live healthy lives,” he said, adding that the health sector allocation has almost doubled from the outgoing fiscal year. Muhit made the remarks while taking part in the general discussion on the proposed budget in Parliament. He said the health sector allocation has increased to Tk 69,000 crore in the proposed budget from Tk 35,000 crore in the previous budget. The state minister said the country's economy and healthcare system deteriorated during the previous 15 years of misrule, making comprehensive reforms essential. The objective of this health budget is to rebuild the collapsed healthcare system and establish an integrated health service where people, regardless of their economic status, will receive free and easily accessible treatment, he said. “This budget has been designed to build an accessible, affordable and inclusive healthcare system,” Muhit said. Focusing on the country's major health challenges, he said around 71 percent of deaths in Bangladesh are now caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, hypertension, kidney diseases and other chronic diseases. He stressed the need to make healthcare services more effective by adopting modern technologies and improving health management. The state minister also expressed concern over the high cost of medical treatment, saying nearly 79 percent of healthcare expenditure in Bangladesh comes directly from patients' pockets. In Thailand, out-of-pocket expenditure accounts for only around 10 percent, while in the Maldives it is about 18 percent, he said. “There is no plan in this budget for indiscriminate construction of hospitals and buildings,” said the state minister. Criticising the opposition for not raising voice for health reform, he claimed that the opposition often talks about reforms and the July Charter, but they only speak of reforms that will give them a share of power. “They have never spoken about reforms in the health sector,” he said. Muhit stressed the need for strengthening health management, decentralising healthcare services and ensuring greater transparency and accountability in procurement in the health sector. “We will build a healthcare system where people in both urban and rural areas receive the same standard of services. Our healthcare system will be built on the foundation of primary healthcare,” he said. Citing that the health budget has been increased by 100 percent this time, the state minister said the government will place greater emphasis on disease prevention rather than treatment. “We will build a referral network (to ensure better delivery of healthcare services),” he said.