Bangladesh committed to achieving universal health coverage by 2030: Sakhawat

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain today (11 November) said Bangladesh is firmly committed to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030.

“The government is working to ensure essential healthcare services for every person in the country, irrespective of geographical location and social status,” he said.

The minister made the remarks while addressing the first BIMSTEC Health Ministers’ Conference in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, said a press release here. 

Health ministers, policymakers and experts from the BIMSTEC member countries attended the maiden conference.

Sakhawat said Bangladesh has made significant progress in various health indicators, including reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, maintaining polio-free status and implementing immunisation programmes.

Following the formation of the new government, coverage of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme against cervical cancer had been increased from 2% to more than 85%, he said. 

Efforts are underway to achieve 100% coverage by the end of November this year, he added.

The minister said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has doubled the health sector budget, raising it to 1.01% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 

There are plans to gradually increase the allocation to 5% of GDP, he added. 

At the same time, Sakhawat said, the government is prioritising strengthening preventive healthcare, expanding primary healthcare services and raising public awareness.

He said initiatives have been taken to establish primary healthcare centres in more than 4,600 unions across the country, staffed by multidisciplinary health workers.