Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain today emphasized that ensuring primary healthcare for the people of Bangladesh is the government's top priority. He stated that the current government is working diligently to improve healthcare services at the upazila level across the country and enhance the quality of public healthcare services with the support of various international organizations, development partners, and donor agencies.
Expanding Healthcare Services
The minister made these remarks at a discussion on expanding primary healthcare services in urban areas, held at a hotel in Dhaka. The event was organized by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and featured presentations on the evidence-based outcomes, implementation experiences, and lessons learned from the 'Alo Clinic' model. These findings are expected to guide future government initiatives aimed at strengthening primary healthcare services in urban areas.
Alo Clinic Model
Since 2021, six Alo Clinics established in Dhaka North, Dhaka South, Gazipur, and Narayanganj have been providing free, integrated, and fully digital primary healthcare services under the national Essential Services Package (ESP++). These clinics offer a wide range of primary healthcare services, including maternal, newborn, and child healthcare, immunization, nutrition screening, disease diagnosis, and treatment. On average, 168 patients receive services at these clinics each day.
Four of the Alo Clinics operate 24/7 midwife-led normal delivery centers, where more than 1,000 safe deliveries have been carried out since January 2025. The Alo Clinic model was developed and implemented by UNICEF in partnership with the Bangladesh government, with financial support from the Government of Sweden.
Government Initiatives
Stressing that no one should die for lack of medical treatment, the minister said the scope of healthcare services is being expanded across the country. He added that ambulance services would be extended to ensure that patients from all remote and hard-to-reach areas can be transported to advanced healthcare facilities for better treatment.
International Collaboration
The discussion was presided over by DGHS Director General Dr. Pravath Chandra Biswas and addressed by Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks and UNICEF deputy country representative Emmanuelle Abrew. Their presence underscored the importance of international collaboration in achieving the government's healthcare goals.
