Government plans to allocate 5% of GDP to health sector: Fakhrul

The government plans to allocate at least 5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to the health and medical sector, Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said Saturday (August 8).

He made the announcement while speaking as a special guest at a doctors’ rally marking the 37th founding anniversary of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad in Dhaka.

Fakhrul said the government, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, was working on a broader plan to rebuild the country following the election, with healthcare being given particular priority.

Greater investment in the sector would not only improve the quality of medical services but also expand access to healthcare for ordinary citizens, he said.

The minister also stressed the importance of political stability for sustainable development. He alleged that various groups had repeatedly sought to disrupt Bangladesh’s progress and urged professionals and citizens to remain vigilant against attempts to destabilise the country.

Earlier, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the doctors’ rally and outlined several government initiatives for the health sector.

He said the government planned to recruit 100,000 new healthcare workers, introduce an e-Health Card soon and upgrade upazila-level hospitals to 101-bed facilities.

On political engagement by professionals, Tarique Rahman said it was natural for teachers, students and members of different professions to have political awareness and ideological preferences in a democratic system. However, political activities should not interfere with professional responsibilities, he said.

Calling for changes in the country’s political culture after August 5, the prime minister stressed the need for positive and qualitative reforms beyond conventional political practices.

DAB President Prof Dr Harun Al Rashid, Secretary General Dr Md Zahirul Islam Shakil and other central leaders attended the programme, along with the prime minister’s wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman.

The gathering also discussed challenges facing Bangladesh’s healthcare system, doctors’ professional responsibilities and the future direction of national health policy.