Development activists on Sunday urged the government to sketch a roadmap to achieve the World Health Organisation’s universal health coverage by 2032 for attaining the United Nations’ sponsored Sustainable Development Goals.
They said that the goal of the universal health coverage was set for 2030 for other countries while Bangladesh had taken a two-year extension to achieve its target.
SDG Action Alliance Bangladesh convener Abdul Awal made the demand at a press conference held at Sagar-Runi Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity.
‘Many people living in the country’s remote and hilly areas are not getting adequate primary healthcare services. The government needs to increase the budgetary allocation in the health sector in the next budget so that the number of doctors and community healthcare services could increase,’ said Awal.
In his key-note paper presentation, non-government organisation Bandhan executive director Md Aminuzzaman said, ‘Facilities for community health services in remote areas are inadequate and there is also a lack of quality doctors in those areas. In urban areas, poor and marginalised communities have to face financial hardship after spending money on treatment.’
Urging the government to increase its allocation in the health sector, he said that Bangladesh was spending average 1.5 per cent Tax GDP against the global average 5.9 per cent as it became an obstacle to ensure quality healthcare services for people from all walks of life.
Referring to the World Health Organisation’s estimated $88 per capita allocation to mitigate their treatment expenses in Bangladesh, he said that Bangladesh’s per capita expenses on healthcare stood at $58 while the people bore most of the costs.
Noakhali Rural Development Society programme officer for Gender and Women’s Rights Monoara Minu and Bangladesh Writers Foundation president Prottoy Jasim were present at the event.
