Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has announced that five percent of the GDP will be gradually allocated to the health sector to enhance the healthcare system for all citizens. In his message on the eve of World Health Day 2026, he emphasized the expansion of preventive healthcare alongside quality medical services, including comprehensive maternal and child healthcare in both urban and rural areas.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Prime Minister revealed plans to recruit one lakh healthcare workers in phases, with 80 percent of them being women. The government is also set to introduce e-health cards for every citizen and ensure rapid and quality treatment for chronic and multifactorial diseases through public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives.
The government aims to implement necessary reforms to improve service quality, keep treatment costs affordable, introduce and expand health insurance, strengthen medical education and research, and enact fair laws for both service providers and recipients. “To achieve these goals, five percent of the GDP will be allocated to the health sector in phases,” Rahman stated.
On the occasion of World Health Day 2026, which will be observed tomorrow in Bangladesh as well as globally, the Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to building a healthy and safe world for future generations under the theme ‘Together for Health, Stand with Science.’ He highlighted the interconnectedness of human beings, animals, and the environment, stressing that the well-being of one relies on the others.
Rahman underscored the importance of the ‘One Health’ concept, which integrates medical, agricultural, veterinary, and environmental sciences to ensure research and sustainable technology use. He pointed out that the rapid advancement of science offers unprecedented opportunities in healthcare, particularly in Bangladesh, where technology is crucial for providing sustainable, quality, and equitable healthcare services to marginalized people.
The Prime Minister called for encouraging innovations and the application of technologies like Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) to ensure fast and accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Emphasizing the principle that ‘Prevention is better than Cure,’ Rahman affirmed his government’s commitment to ‘Health for All’ by ensuring accessible and affordable healthcare within the framework of a developed welfare-oriented state.
Rahman concluded by stating that healthcare is a fundamental human right, urging everyone to fulfill their responsibilities with honesty, dedication, and sincerity to help build a strong and healthy nation. He extended sincere greetings to all health sector personnel and wished success for all World Health Day programs.