50 lakh people fall into poverty every year due to medical expenses: Professor Shahinul

Every year, around 50 lakh people in Bangladesh fall below the poverty line due to medical expenses, said Professor Dr Md Shahinul Alam, Vice-Chancellor of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU).

He made this statement at the inaugural ceremony of the 4th Interim Session of the Bangladesh Society of Neurosurgeons (BSNS), which was held on Sunday (May 4) at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka.

Professor Shahinul said, “Most people in our country rely on loans for medical treatment, and many are forced to sell land or assets to repay those loans. This situation highlights the weaknesses in our healthcare system and the neglect of ordinary people.”

He further added, “Due to the financial burden on healthcare, ordinary people's lives are becoming very difficult. Even though they are bearing the load of debt and interest for treatment, sometimes they do not receive the required care, or they are deprived of basic needs while trying to bear the cost of long-term treatment.”

He noted that healthcare has now become a major issue in the country. While the number of people seeking medical care has increased in recent years, complaints regarding the costs in both public and private healthcare sectors continue to rise. Despite the growing number of patients, there is a lack of effective measures or policies to reduce medical expenses.

The BMU Vice-Chancellor also stated, “In most developed countries, modern technology and equipment are available, but the number of patients is low. However, in Bangladesh, the situation is completely different — there is no shortage of patients, but the lack of proper management and expertise is complicating the problem further.”