# Bangladesh Introduces National Health Card to Bridge Urban-Rural Healthcare Gap

*The government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is set to launch a 'National Health Card' to narrow the urban-rural healthcare gap and ensure every citizen has access to modern, quality healthcare.*

July 22, 2026 · Health

The government of Bangladesh, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is set to introduce a 'National Health Card' aimed at reducing healthcare inequality and ensuring that every citizen has access to modern, quality healthcare. Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam announced this initiative while speaking at the 'Digital and Intelligent Integration for Health - Towards a New Cooperative Ecosystem along the Silk Road' session in Xi'an, China. The card will enable physicians to instantly access a patient's essential medical records from anywhere in the country, facilitating faster, more accurate, and better-coordinated diagnosis and treatment.

## Role of Digital Technologies and AI

Faqir Mahbub Anam highlighted the role of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in transforming the healthcare sector. He emphasized that this initiative is not merely a technological innovation but a significant step towards ensuring equity in healthcare. The goal is to ensure that a patient in a remote riverine community receives the same standard of healthcare as a patient in a modern hospital in Dhaka.

## Commitment to Inclusive Development

The Minister also stated that the government is working on a human-centric National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, built upon the principles of human rights, ethics, transparency, and inclusive development. He stressed that technological advancement must always serve the welfare of people and that no one should be left behind in benefiting from AI-driven innovation. Additionally, the government is establishing a robust data protection framework to safeguard citizens' personal health information, ensuring secure and trusted data management.

## Sources

- BSS

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Source: https://pulsetoday.com.bd/en/health/bangladesh-national-health-card-reduce-healthcare-inequality