Health Allocation Doubled in Budget, Shift Towards Preventive Healthcare

Healthcare in Bangladesh has traditionally been treatment-focused, but the government now aims to shift towards a preventive healthcare system. In the proposed 2026–27 budget, allocation for the health sector has been nearly doubled compared to the previous fiscal year. However, concerns remain over the sector’s capacity to effectively utilize the increased funds.

Public hospitals continue to struggle with overcrowding, limited service quality, and a growing trend of patients seeking treatment abroad, leading to a significant outflow of foreign currency.

In the proposed budget presented on Thursday, Tk 69,409 crore has been allocated to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, equivalent to 1.01% of GDP. In the revised budget of the previous fiscal year, the allocation was Tk 35,477 crore, or 0.58% of GDP.

Economists say the increased allocation is encouraging but still insufficient. They stress that improving healthcare requires not only higher funding but also proper distribution and efficient utilization of resources.

In his budget speech, Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury emphasized maternal and child health, nutrition, and immunization. Plans include expanding beds in upazila health complexes and strengthening maternal, newborn, child, reproductive health, and physiotherapy services. The government also aims to ensure that no poor family is pushed into financial distress due to medical expenses.

Dhaka University economics professor Rumana Haque said increased health spending is justified, but cautioned that funds should not be limited to infrastructure development. She stressed the importance of prioritizing nutrition, family planning, and vaccination programs, along with ensuring that allocated funds are fully utilized without being returned at the end of the fiscal year.

She also recommended monthly monitoring of budget implementation, with accountability measures for underperforming sectors. “End-of-year discussions are not enough; digitalization and strategic budget execution are essential,” she added.

The finance minister stated that the government aims to bring healthcare services closer to rural and marginalized communities, with plans to establish modern primary healthcare units in every union and urban ward. Implementation has already begun.

Public health expert Mushtaq Hossain welcomed the initiative, stating that preventable deaths should be reduced to zero by 2030 through strengthened primary healthcare and dedicated funding. He noted that even though allocation has increased, it should be raised further.

He also recommended that healthcare spending should be increased to at least 2.5% of GDP.

Meanwhile, the government has initiated the recruitment of 5,000 MBBS doctors to address staffing shortages. The finance minister also confirmed the ongoing recruitment of 100,000 healthcare workers, 80% of whom will be women. Under universal health coverage, every citizen will receive an “e-Health Card.”