Colombo:Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain announced Bangladesh's firm commitment to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030 during the first BIMSTEC Health Ministers' Conference held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister emphasized that the government is actively working to provide essential healthcare services to all citizens, regardless of their geographic location or social status. He spoke at the conference attended by health ministers, policymakers, and experts from BIMSTEC member countries.
Minister Sakhawat highlighted Bangladesh's significant progress in health indicators, such as reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, maintaining a polio-free status, and implementing widespread immunization programs. He noted that the coverage of the HPV vaccination program against cervical cancer had increased significantly, with efforts to achieve full coverage by the end of November.
Under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's leadership, the health sector budget has been doubled to 1.01 percent of GDP, with plans to increase it gradually to 5 percent. The minister also discussed initiatives to expand primary healthcare, raise public awareness, and establish healthcare centers in over 4,600 unions.
Furthermore, the government is upgrading health complexes and introducing solar power systems at major facilities. Plans are underway to implement advanced medical waste management and an integrated electronic health record system as part of the digital transformation of healthcare services.
Minister Sakhawat proposed establishing a BIMSTEC Regional Genetic Disease Observatory and Early Warning System to enhance regional health security, emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation in addressing health challenges like non-communicable diseases and climate change-related risks.