Planning Commission sought explanation, DGHS cites wider project scope
Representational Image.
“>
Representational Image.
The proposed cost of a project to introduce an integrated digital healthcare system on a pilot basis in Bangladesh has nearly tripled from its original estimate of Tk168.16 crore to Tk493.88 crore following its expansion from one district to six, prompting the Planning Commission to seek an explanation.
According to Planning Commission documents, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) proposed project cost at Tk493.88 crore. Of this, Tk328.73 crore is expected from government funds, while Tk165.15 crore as loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
According to the project proposal, the implementation period runs from July 2026 to December 2028.
The project cost presented at an earlier Special Project Evaluation Committee (SPEC) meeting was Tk168.16 crore. The revised proposal takes the total cost to nearly three times the original estimate.
Professor Foara Tasmim, additional director general (planning and development) of the DGHS, told The Business Standard, “The main reason for the cost increase is not a higher budget for any single component, but the expansion of the project area from one district to six, bringing a large number of healthcare facilities, health workers and 1.64 crore citizens directly under digital healthcare services.”
She said the initial draft had allocated funds to implement the project only in Khulna district.
Infographic: TBS
“>
Infographic: TBS
“Following a review, the project was expanded to six districts – Bogura, Jhalakathi, Khulna, Narsingdi, Noakhali and Sirajganj – as part of preparations for introducing a nationwide digital healthcare system,” she added.
Foara said the expansion had significantly increased field-level activities.
The project includes provisions for purchasing equipment, tablets, network connections, computers, backup power systems and cybersecurity equipment for 881 healthcare facilities and 9,040 field workers, she said.
“However, during implementation, existing equipment at field-level offices will be assessed, and new equipment will be purchased only where necessary,” she added.
According to the DGHS, the initial cost was estimated at up to Tk733 crore after the project scope was expanded to include all agencies under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the six districts.
The cost was subsequently reduced to Tk493.88 crore by limiting the scope to institutions directly providing healthcare services, from primary to tertiary levels, and their staff.
Patients’ medical records to be linked to a single ID
The project plans to introduce e-health cards, an electronic health identification system and an integrated cloud-based digital healthcare system.
It also includes developing the framework for a national digital healthcare authority, supplying computers and other equipment to hospitals and primary healthcare centres, training health workers, and ensuring the security and privacy of health information.
State Minister for Health MA Muhit told The Business Standard, “We want to connect the entire healthcare system digitally. It would not be right to call this merely a ‘health card’; it is a complete e-health system.”
He said every patient would have a unique identification number. “Through this ID, hospitals across the country would be able to access patients’ previous treatment records, test results and prescriptions.”
Whenever a person visits a doctor, undergoes laboratory tests or purchases medicines, the relevant medical information would be added to the system, he added.
The state minister said field-level health workers would have tablets or phones, while doctors at upazila health complexes would also be connected to the computer-based system.
This would allow prescriptions to be recorded, improve accountability and help reduce unnecessary prescriptions of medicines and diagnostic tests, he added.
The Planning Commission also sought details about the cost of distributing e-health cards, the unit cost of each card, the expected number of beneficiaries, and their usefulness and long-term sustainability.
According to the proposal, digital healthcare services will be piloted at five levels of healthcare facilities, from community-level centres to tertiary hospitals. These will include digitally supported primary healthcare services.
The project will also cover software development, feasibility studies, baseline surveys and preparation of a long-term roadmap.
The experience and data gathered from the pilot programme will be used to develop plans for expanding the system nationwide.
Digital healthcare systems are gaining ground across South Asia. In India, more than 97.61 crore digital health IDs had been created as of 17 September 2026 under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, launched in 2021.
Pakistan began implementing its “One Patient, One ID” initiative in 2025, aiming to use national identity card numbers as permanent medical record numbers for patients.
About The Author
