Dhaka:State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. MA Muhit has urged an end to the culture of flashy or populist activities to ensure the proper utilization of the record budget allocated for the health sector.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr. Muhit emphasized that spending money merely for expenditure's sake or purchasing large buildings and expensive equipment in an unplanned manner does not ensure the people's good health.
The minister's remarks were made at a roundtable titled "Specific Budget Allocation for Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases Including Hypertension Control and Ways to Ensure Availability of Hypertension Medicines and Future Course of Action" held at Bangladesh Medical University. Public health experts, researchers, and prominent physicians participated in the event.
Dr. Muhit stated that the government's goal is to build a sustainable and marginalized people-friendly healthcare system within the next ten years. The government has allocated a historic budget of Taka 70,000 crore for the health sector, and the minister stressed that every penny must be spent on healthcare, ensuring that no form of corruption misuses the funds.
Highlighting the severity of hypertension and non-communicable diseases, Dr. Muhit noted that many people are living daily with the risk of death. He asserted that the problem cannot be solved merely by purchasing expensive equipment or constructing hospital buildings. Instead, investing in the regular supply of medicines to marginalized people's doorsteps, health promotion, and preventive healthcare is crucial.
Dr. Muhit also pointed out that in the past, the sudden closure of sector-wide programs and operational plans without considering alternative options had caused major disruptions, affecting everything from vaccination to the supply of hypertension medicines. He concluded by calling on experts to convene again at a roundtable to formulate specific policies and recommendations on how the health sector will be managed in the future.