This study aimed to examine the burden of out-of-pocket payment and forgone healthcare in Bangladesh, and further explores the inequalities in catastrophic health expenditures (CHE) and forgone healthcare at the national and sub-national levels. Data came from the national cross-sectional survey 2016–17. Findings showed that approximately 25% of individuals incurred CHE and 14% of the population had forgone healthcare. The most common reasons for forgone healthcare were treatment cost (17%), followed by none to accompany or need for permission (5%), and distance to health facility (3%). This study calls for incorporation of a social safety net in the health financing system, expansion of health facilities, and priority in access to health care given to disadvantaged populations.
