Haikou: Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain today outlined four priorities for further strengthening cooperation in the health sector with China and other Asian countries.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the priorities are pharmaceuticals and health technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital health, healthy ageing, and vaccines and health security. Sakhawat highlighted these priorities while addressing the BFA Global Health Forum-2026 Haikou Conference, held in Haikou, China.
Sakhawat emphasized that Bangladesh boasts a robust pharmaceutical industry, with medicines being exported to nearly 160 countries. He expressed Bangladesh's interest in collaborating with China to facilitate access for Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals to the Chinese market, focusing on areas such as active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production, technology transfer, research, and the development of smart health infrastructure.
On AI and digital health, the minister pointed out the significant potential of modern technologies in disease diagnosis, treatment, and medical education, alongside applications in oncology, precision medicine, robotic surgery, chronic disease management, and remote patient monitoring. He urged technology companies to establish partnerships in Bangladesh in these fields.
Regarding healthy ageing, Sakhawat noted the rapid growth of the elderly population across Asia, emphasizing the need for regional cooperation to develop rehabilitation services, assistive technologies, geriatric care, and age-friendly healthcare systems.
Similarly, he highlighted the necessity for joint initiatives among countries to advance vaccine research and production, facilitate technology transfer, and ensure stable supply chains. "The future of healthcare in Asia will depend on how well we cooperate, innovate, and share our responsibilities," the minister stated, calling for stronger regional cooperation to advance healthcare across Asia.
Senior officials from China, Laos, Egypt, and the World Health Organization attended the conference, including Leung Chun-Ying, Vice-Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and the fourth chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.