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Govt plans major overhaul to build modern, people-friendly healthcare system
Daily Sun Report, Dhaka
Published: 06 Nov 2026, 06:52 PM
Photo: Collected
The government is planning sweeping reforms to make Bangladesh's healthcare system modern, people-friendly and affordable, with a focus on strengthening primary care, upgrading hospitals and expanding access to specialised treatment.
Dr SM Ziauddin Hyder, special assistant to the Prime Minister on health affairs, outlined the plans while speaking as chief guest at a seminar organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham Bangladesh) at Hotel InterContinental in the capital on Friday.
He said the government aimed to transform the existing treatment-focused system into a preventive, primary healthcare-based and patient-centred model.
Achieving this would require coordinated improvements in healthcare financing, infrastructure, human resources, medical technology and diagnostic services, he said.
Strengthening upazila health complexes and district hospitals would reduce the need for patients to travel to Dhaka or other major cities for treatment, while regional capacities for managing complex diseases would also be expanded, he added.
Highlighting the burden of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, Hyder said it accounted for around 79% of Bangladesh's total current health expenditure in 2023.
Treatment costs for complex diseases such as cancer, heart disease and kidney ailments were pushing many families into financial hardship, he said, stressing the need to improve public healthcare financing and protect people from the financial risks of medical treatment.
He identified significant opportunities for public-private partnerships in emergency and specialised healthcare services, as well as local production of medical equipment.
Developing a modern ambulance network, training emergency medical personnel and establishing an effective referral system could help reduce deaths from accidents and sudden illnesses, he said.
The government also wants to attract foreign investment, facilitate technology transfer and strengthen local industries to boost domestic production of medical equipment, reducing import dependence while creating jobs and export opportunities.
On medical tourism, Hyder said developing internationally competitive specialised hospitals and advanced diagnostic facilities could reduce the number of Bangladeshis seeking treatment abroad and attract patients from neighbouring countries.
Calling on private companies to invest in healthcare and innovation, he said the government would remain responsible for quality regulation and protecting public interests, while the private sector could contribute investment, technology and specialised services.
The government's goal was to ensure that access to quality healthcare did not depend on people's income, social status or place of residence, he added.
The seminar was organised as part of the 30th US Trade Show 2026.
AmCham Bangladesh President Syed Mohammad Kamal, representatives of the US Embassy, senior government officials, medical specialists and representatives of private hospitals and medical technology companies attended the event.
A panel discussion also addressed healthcare quality, modern medical technology, skilled workforce development and opportunities for public-private cooperation.