Govt plans to expand contraceptive use, strengthen primary healthcare system

The government aims to increase the use of contraceptive products through private-sector participation and awareness initiatives, said State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. M A Muhit.

He said currently around 50 per cent of people in the country purchase and use contraceptive products privately, adding that with proper awareness this figure could be raised to 70 per cent. “This will reduce pressure on government supply systems, allowing resources to be redirected to public health development,” he said.

The minister made the remarks at a policy dialogue titled “Primary Healthcare and National Family Planning Programme in Bangladesh” held at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday (May 7), jointly organised by Bangladesh Health Watch and Sweden.

Dr. Muhit said efforts are underway to reduce duplication in field-level health services, noting that nearly 40,000 workers under the health ministry, family planning department and community clinics are currently operating in fragmented groups.

He said the government is planning to recruit an additional 100,000 health workers, which would bring the total workforce to around 140,000 under a unified framework. “They will operate under a standardised job description and essential service package to ensure uniform service delivery,” he added.

Emphasising a broader shift in policy, the minister said the focus is moving beyond population control to overall health improvement, disease prevention and awareness building. He pointed out inefficiencies in the current system, where multiple field workers often visit the same households while some remote areas remain underserved.

“Our goal is to build a fully restructured and modern primary healthcare system. The existing family planning structure is not a burden but a valuable asset, though reforms are necessary in line with changing needs,” he said.

On healthcare financing, Dr. Muhit noted that inefficiency and delays in implementation remain bigger challenges than funding shortages. He said the government plans to gradually increase allocations for health and education sectors, with an aim to expand the overall health budget in phases.