Bangladesh has made significant strides in healthcare but faces persistent inequalities, especially in rural and marginalized communities. Collaboration between stakeholders is essential to achieve UHC, ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare for all citizens by 2030.
Bangladesh continues its journey towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC), aiming to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all its citizens. The country’s robust efforts have significantly improved various health indicators, however, persistent inequalities, especially in rural and marginalized communities, underscore the need for further advancements in the healthcare system.
A recent survey conducted by the SDG Action Alliance in Bangladesh highlighted disparities in healthcare access and social protection among marginalized communities. While vaccination coverage has seen progress, a notable gap remains, with 21.3% of marginalized populations still not vaccinated. Additionally, access to government healthcare facilities faces hurdles like medicine shortages and distant locations, contributing to financial burdens for medical treatment among 46% of respondents.
Bangladesh aims to achieve UHC by 2032, focusing on increasing fiscal space for health, expanding coverage, and enhancing service quality. However, challenges like low public investment in health, high out-of-pocket spending, and unequal access to services persist. With only 1.5% of GDP allocated to health, well below the global average, Bangladesh faces limitations in providing comprehensive healthcare services to its citizens.
To address these challenges, policy recommendations include increasing public spending in health, reducing out-of-pocket expenses, strengthening the primary healthcare system, and addressing social determinants of health. Civil society organizations emphasize the importance of a people-centered health system, advocating for accessible primary healthcare, community empowerment, and government accountability. As Bangladesh navigates towards UHC, collaboration between the government, civil society, and other stakeholders is crucial.