Bangladesh lags behind neighbours in health research: BMRC

Bangladesh remains significantly behind its neighbouring countries in budget allocation for health research, according to Officials.

The country spending nearly 19 times lower than India and about four times less than Sri Lanka, experts revealed at a discussion on Saturday (September 20).

The observations came during a view-sharing meeting held at the Bangladesh Medical Research Council (BMRC) headquarters in Mohakhali, where BMRC President Professor Dr. Sayeba Akhter presented the keynote address.

Citing comparative data, Dr. Sayeba Akhter said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has an annual budget of $283.13 million, translating to a per capita allocation of $0.19. In contrast, the BMRC operates with a budget of just $1.82 million—equivalent to a per capita allocation of $0.01. Sri Lanka's National Research Council, with a budget of $0.86 million, allocates about $0.04 per capita.

“This disparity is significantly limiting Bangladesh’s research capacity and weakening our competitive position in global health research,” she said.

The meeting highlighted the urgent need to increase investment in health research, develop long-term strategic plans, strengthen policy support, and enhance research infrastructure.

Despite budgetary constraints, interest in health research is growing rapidly. The BMRC received a record 582 student grant applications for the 2025–26 fiscal year—nearly four times higher than last year’s 150. Similarly, applications for researcher grants rose to 711, more than double the 306 received in the previous year.

Dr. Sayeba Akhter attributed the rise in applications to the creation of a more research-friendly environment in educational institutions, streamlined grant processes, and growing interest in the field.

Nurjahan Begum, Adviser to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, attended the event as the chief guest. Additional Secretary of the Health Education and Family Welfare Division, Mahbub Alam, and Director General of the Directorate of Health Education, Professor Dr. Nazmul Hossain, were present as special guests.