Healthy Bangladesh: Govt plans PPP healthcare services with private hospitals
E-health cards to be piloted in five districts
The government has decided to introduce healthcare services through public-private partnerships (PPP) with private hospitals and launch e-health cards on a pilot basis in five districts as part of a broader effort to expand healthcare access under the "Healthy Bangladesh" programme.
The decisions were taken at a high-level meeting held at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on 4 May to implement the programme announced in the government's election manifesto. The meeting was chaired by Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain.
The programme aims to expand healthcare services in both urban and rural areas and ensure access to essential treatment at the upazila level.
Under the plan, better-qualified doctors, nurses and midwives will be appointed at primary healthcare centres in rural areas. Pre-hospital medical services will be introduced at these centres, while emergency services at hospitals and health complexes will be expanded, according to the meeting minutes.
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For urban residents, the government is moving ahead with an urban health project. As part of the initiative, 192 urban primary healthcare centres will be transferred from the Local Government Division to the Health Services Division.
The health minister said the "Healthy Bangladesh" plan had been designed to improve healthcare services and ensure better health outcomes for citizens.
"The activities under the plan must be completed within the stipulated timeframe," he said.
State Minister MA Muhit said hospitals should be inspected regularly and ambulance services ensured for patients. "The number of ambulances should be increased if necessary," he said.
Prime Minister's Special Assistant on Health Affairs SM Ziauddin Hyder stressed the need to curb corruption in the health sector and increase spending on development programmes.
Mahdi Amin, advisor to the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labour and Employment, said the "Healthy Bangladesh" programme would be implemented through short-, medium- and long-term plans.
Health Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury outlined plans to expand healthcare services at the upazila level and introduce services through PPP arrangements with private hospitals.
According to meeting documents, the government will place greater emphasis on specialised healthcare services. It also plans to improve the quality of medical education, strengthen nursing standards and enhance the professional status of physicians.
PPP model with private hospitals
To improve healthcare services in the capital, the government has decided to introduce services through PPP arrangements with four private hospitals in the initial phase.
The necessary process to bring Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital under the initiative has already begun. Officials were instructed to complete 70% of the required work within the next three months.
E-health cards in five districts
The government plans to introduce e-health cards to improve access to healthcare services and reduce opportunities for corruption in the sector.
Initially, the cards will be launched on a pilot basis in Narsingdi, Sirajganj, Bogura, Noakhali and Khulna.
A Development Project Proposal (DPP) is being prepared for the pilot programme, with an estimated initial cost of $4.5 million.
According to the meeting minutes, at least one upazila in each of the five districts will be brought under a fully digitalised e-health card system by the end of June. The card will allow patients to receive healthcare services directly.
National call centre
The government also plans to establish a national call centre for emergency healthcare services by integrating existing services under a single dialling number.
The call centre will be staffed by trained operators, while paramedic assistants will be appointed to assess patients' needs and advise them on treatment or referrals.
Urban health project approved
Following approval by Ecnec of the project titled "Expanding Access to Integrated Health Care for the Urban Population", the government has decided to quickly appoint a project director and begin integrated healthcare services for urban residents.
The 192 urban health centres will be transferred from the Local Government Division to the Health Services Division.
Buildings currently used by these centres under city corporations and municipalities will be brought under the supervision of civil surgeons.
Recruitment of health workers
The government plans to recruit 100,000 new health workers to strengthen primary healthcare services in remote areas and make better use of Community Health Care Providers (CHCPs) and Family Welfare Visitors (FWVs) at the union level.
Over the next three years, the health workers will conduct cancer awareness campaigns and help deliver healthcare services directly to citizens.
Other directives
The meeting also called for bills to be placed in parliament to establish legal frameworks in areas of the health sector where none currently exist.
Participants expressed concern that between 20% and 25% of the health budget remains unspent and is returned each year, stressing the need for more effective utilisation of allocated funds.
