Better coordination, efficiency needed in health sector: Commerce minister
He called for identifying both urgent staffing needs and long-term workforce requirements.
Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has stressed the need for better planning, inter-agency coordination and greater accountability to ensure the government's investment in the health sector delivers maximum benefits.
Speaking at a meeting with officials from various healthcare institutions in Sylhet today (4 July), the minister said the government has prioritised human resource development and increased investment in the health and education sectors.
He said nearly Tk69,000 crore has been allocated to the health sector in the FY27 budget, accounting for about 6% of the total budget, up from around 4% in previous years.
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The government aims to raise investment in health and education to 5% of GDP in the future, he added.
The meeting, held in the conference hall of Sylhet Medical University, reviewed the overall performance of the university and other government healthcare institutions. It was chaired by university Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Ziaur Rahman Chowdhury.
The minister said one of Bangladesh's biggest healthcare challenges is the high out-of-pocket expenditure borne by patients.
He also noted that a significant portion of the allocated budget often remains unspent, limiting the expected benefits.
He attributed this to weak planning, staff shortages and infrastructure development without adequate assessment of actual needs, leaving many hospitals and facilities underutilised.
Muktadir said building infrastructure alone is not enough, stressing the need to ensure adequate manpower and effective management.
He called for identifying both urgent staffing needs and long-term workforce requirements.
The minister also assured participants that the demands of the institutions will be discussed with the health ministry. He proposed holding review meetings every two months, preceded by field visits to healthcare facilities to assess progress and identify challenges.
"As a country with limited resources, ensuring the best use of every allocated taka is our biggest challenge. Through efficiency, coordination and good governance, we must ensure that investment in the health sector translates into tangible benefits for the people," he said.
