Public-private partnership key to transforming healthcare: Khasru
Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday underscored the need for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors, along with greater entrepreneurship, to transform Bangladesh's healthcare system.
Speaking as the special guest at a programme titled "Pathways to Health Entrepreneurship in Bangladesh" at a hotel in Dhaka, he said increasing budgetary allocations alone would not be enough to improve the country's health sector.
He said the effective utilisation of existing resources, combined with constructive dialogue and sound policy direction involving both public and private stakeholders, would be crucial to building a sustainable healthcare system.
"The initiative to establish a forward-looking and effective advisory coalition for the health sector is a welcome step," he said.
Private sector has pivotal role in healthcare reform
Highlighting Bangladesh's strengths, the finance minister said the country already has capable entrepreneurs, well-established diagnostic centres, private hospitals and a strong pharmaceutical industry.
He noted that the 2026-27 national budget includes substantial support for the pharmaceutical sector, particularly for the development of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), including the establishment of a dedicated API zone.
"The real challenge is how we integrate these significant capabilities into the mainstream healthcare system," he said.
Expressing concern over Bangladesh's high out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure, Khasru described it as among the highest in the world.
He said reducing the financial burden on patients would require stronger integration between public and private healthcare providers to ensure affordable and accessible services.
Describing healthcare as a fundamental right, the finance minister said the government is shifting its focus towards primary and preventive healthcare.
He added that around 100,000 health workers are being deployed to strengthen healthcare services and raise health awareness at the grassroots level.
Rather than investing heavily in additional public healthcare infrastructure, the government has adopted a policy of making better use of the expertise and capacity already available in the private sector, he said.
Budget incentives to boost local healthcare manufacturing
The finance minister said the national budget also offers significant incentives to encourage both local and foreign investors to manufacture healthcare equipment in Bangladesh, adding that the initiative has already received a strong response from entrepreneurs.
He expressed confidence that Bangladeshis could become among the world's leading entrepreneurs if provided with the right opportunities and supportive policy environment.
"The political philosophy of the present government is private sector-led growth. Our leadership firmly believes in empowering the private sector, and we are working tirelessly to bring about positive change in the country," he said.
Khasru said the government's policy support, visionary leadership and the efforts of talented entrepreneurs would together help deliver quality healthcare services to people's doorsteps and make a transformative contribution to the country's health sector.
Dr Zubaida Rahman, Vice-President of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, attended the programme as the chief guest.