DHAKA, APRIL 07, 2019 (BSS) – Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid
Maleque today said the present government is working for reducing out-of-
pocket expenditure as many people are suffering financial hardship to bear
medical expenditure.
“We are now laying more emphasis on the most important element of
Universal Health Coverage (UHC), which is reducing out-of-pocket expenditure
for lessening the hardship of people,” he said.
The minister said these while inaugurating a national-level programme
marking the World Health Day at the auditorium of Krishibid Institution of
Bangladesh (KIB) in Khamarbari area in the capital.
Senior health officials from across the country attended the programme
presided over by Secretary Asadul Islam.
The minister said the standard of treatment in the country has improved
remarkably as developed infrastructure, skilled manpower, ultra modern
equipment and digital technology are used in the health sector.
“The government is working tirelessly to provide proper healthcare
services, including prevention of diseases and development of nutrition
sector, to people of the country,” Zahid added.
According to WHO, out-of-pocket payments are defined as direct payments
made by individuals to healthcare providers at the time of service use. These
expenses for medical care are not reimbursed by insurance.
The World Health Day is a global health awareness day observed every
year on April 7 under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization (WHO)
marking its birthday.
The theme of this year’s day is ‘Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for
Primary Health Care (PHC) with a focus on equity and solidarity’.