Dhaka: Experts at a session today urged investors to invest in Bangladesh’s medical sector as it is experiencing robust growth. They also projected that the market volume will reach US$ 23 billion by 2033, driven by increasing demand for medical consumables and advanced diagnostic tools.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the projection was made at a session titled “Unlocking Healthcare Investment Potential in Bangladesh” during the “Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025” held at a hotel in the city. Md. Saidur Rahman, Secretary of the Health Services Division, was the session speaker, while Sylvana Quader Sinha, founder, chair, and CEO of Praava Health, delivered the keynote speech on the same topic.
In his speech, Saidur Rahman described the remarkable growth of the country’s health sector and urged investors to participate in its expansion. “It’s projected that the market volume of the country’s health sector will be $23 billion by 2033. It is clear that there are huge potentials for investors of the country’s health sector,” he added.
Sylvana Quader Sinha highlighted that the medical equipment and devices market is experiencing robust growth, projected to reach $3 billion by 2030, driven by increasing demand for medical consumables and advanced diagnostic tools. “The sector is heavily reliant on imports, creating a significant opportunity for local manufacturing of medical devices, especially as the country works towards self-sufficiency in producing critical healthcare products,” she explained.
Sylvana further noted that investment potential exists in establishing manufacturing units for essential medical consumables, like in vitro diagnostic test kits, and low-risk health monitoring devices. “As the health complexity increases, the demand for OT support and ICU equipment is also increasing, presenting the sector as a lucrative segment for investment with high returns,” she added.
Describing the healthcare sector as one of the largest in the Bangladeshi economy, Sylvana stated that in terms of revenue, it has been growing at a CAGR of 10.3 percent since 2010, employing nearly 0.3 million people directly. “Several factors are driving the growth of the healthcare sector, including an aging population, a growing middle and affluent class, and the rising proportion of non-communicable diseases,” she added.
She mentioned that the country’s healthcare facilities are expanding with private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers showing strong growth. “Public-private partnerships (PPP) and government incentives are encouraging investments. The sector benefits from policies like tax exemptions for private hospitals outside major cities, making it an attractive market for both local and foreign investors,” she noted.
Sylvana also pointed out that the pharmaceutical sector, recognized as a Pharmerging Market, is projected to reach US$6 billion in 2025 at a 12 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR). The industry is well known for branded generics, particularly in gastrointestinal, antibiotic, and antipyretic therapies that meet nearly all the domestic demand.
She highlighted that digital transformation is further accelerating growth in the healthcare sector. Since COVID-19, digital health has emerged as a key area of innovation, gaining momentum as the tech-savvy youth population increasingly turns to digital solutions for healthcare access. The government’s Digital Healthcare Strategy 2023-2027 aims to integrate digital tools like cloud-based Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and telehealth platforms to enhance healthcare delivery and reduce costs.
“This transition presents investment opportunities in cloud-based services, interoperable health systems, and remote patient monitoring. Additionally, partnerships with foreign tech companies for disease management solutions and healthcare technology innovations will be crucial in driving the sector’s growth,” she concluded.