Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today stressed the need for stronger public-private collaboration and greater emphasis on entrepreneurship to ensure the sustainable transformation of Bangladesh's health sector and make quality healthcare more affordable for all. He said increasing budget allocations alone would not be enough to improve healthcare services.
Addressing the 'Pathways to Health Entrepreneurship in Bangladesh' programme at Hotel Amari in Dhaka, Chowdhury highlighted the importance of effective resource utilization through coordinated efforts, strategic planning, and continuous dialogue between the public and private sectors. He welcomed the initiative to establish a consultative alliance for the health sector.
Chowdhury noted that Bangladesh already has a strong foundation, including capable entrepreneurs, modern diagnostic centres, private hospitals, and a globally competitive pharmaceutical industry. He mentioned that the national budget has introduced significant incentives for the pharmaceutical sector, including the establishment of dedicated zones for the production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) to strengthen the country's manufacturing capacity.
Expressing concern over Bangladesh's high out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, the finance minister said closer public-private partnership (PPP) would be essential to reducing treatment costs and ensuring affordable healthcare for all citizens. He highlighted the government's policy priorities, which include greater emphasis on primary and preventive healthcare services.
The government plans to deploy around 100,000 health workers across rural areas to raise health awareness and promote preventive care. Chowdhury said the government has also decided to make greater use of private-sector expertise and facilities instead of relying solely on expanding public infrastructure.
The minister added that the budget offers attractive incentives for both local and foreign investors to manufacture medical equipment in Bangladesh, an initiative that has already generated encouraging responses from entrepreneurs. He reiterated that the government's development strategy is centred on private-sector-led economic growth.
Chowdhury expressed optimism that visionary leadership, supportive policies, and the efforts of the country's entrepreneurs would help bring about a transformative change in the health sector and ensure quality healthcare reaches people's doorsteps. He concluded by emphasizing the immense entrepreneurial potential in Bangladesh and the role of the private sector in achieving these goals.
