Desk Report:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that the government is committed to improving the quality and decentralization of the country’s healthcare system. Although most of the facilities in the medical system are currently Dhaka-centric, initiatives have been taken to ensure improved medical services at the district and upazila levels step by step.
He said these things while speaking as the chief guest at the ‘Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers Conference-2026’ organized by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital on Saturday (April 18, 2026).
The Prime Minister said that eliminating disparities in healthcare between urban and rural areas is one of the government’s priorities. Although this goal cannot be achieved in a short time, work is underway to implement it in a planned manner.
Highlighting the importance of doctors, he said that the medical profession is very respectable and humane. A doctor’s behavior with a patient often plays a more effective role than medicine. Therefore, he emphasized on acquiring human qualities along with professional skills.
Regarding the health policy, the Prime Minister said that the main policy of the current government is “Prevention is Better than Cure”. That is, work is being done in the health sector with emphasis on disease prevention. She said that about 71 percent of the total deaths in the country are due to non-communicable diseases, so regular screening for diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure is necessary at the upazila level.
Noting that new health risks are also emerging due to the impact of climate change, she said that the role of field-level health workers is very important in addressing these challenges.
The Prime Minister also said that the government has planned to allocate 5 percent of the GDP to the health sector in phases. At the same time, initiatives have been taken to establish primary health care units in every upazila and union on the model of the UK’s NHS. For this purpose, one lakh ‘health care workers’ will be appointed across the country, 80 percent of whom will be women.
Giving special emphasis on maternal and child health, she said that upazila health complexes should be developed as centers for safe maternity and newborn care.
She also announced plans to launch a unified e-health card in the future, through which citizens’ health information will be digitally stored. There are also plans to launch a national health insurance so that no one is financially affected by medical expenses.
The Prime Minister said that the government is also working to ensure housing, security and dignity of doctors and health workers.
Six upazila-level doctors were awarded crests for their work efficiency at the conference.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain presided over the meeting. In addition, state ministers, secretaries and directors general of the Department of Health were present.
