Reform commission chief Professor AK Azad Khan ‍spoke at a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital today. Photo : PID

DHAKA, May 5, 2025 (BSS) - The Health Sector Reform Commission today submitted its report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, recommending formation of an independent and permanent "Bangladesh Health Commission (BHC)" aiming to implement the health in all policies (HiAP).

"The Bangladesh Health Commission will oversee the primary healthcare (of people)," reform commission chief Professor AK Azad Khan told a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy here later. 

He said the commission will be accountable to the head of the government and it will ensure a transparent and effective healthcare system through 17 departments.

Commission member Dr Syed Md Akram Hossain presented the recommendations to bring reform in the country's health sector at the briefing.

Hossain said the reform commission proposed recognising primary healthcares as the fundamental rights through amendment to the Constitution and providing the primary healthcares for the people free of cost.  

The commission suggested amending all health-related laws to make those time-befitting and enacting new laws to ensure protection of patients, financial allocation, transparency and accountability in the health sector.

It proposed adopting several new laws like Bangladesh Health Commission Act, Bangladesh Health Service Act, Primary Healthcare Act, Health Protection Act, Medicine Price Fixation and Access Act, Allied Health Professional Act and Bangladesh Medical Research Council Act.

Dr Hossain said the commission suggested constituting the Bangladesh Health Service (BHS) aiming to ensure universal and easy-to-access healthcare services to all.

"We have recommended the fully decentralisation of the Bangladesh Health Service," he added.  

The reform commission proposed forming a high-level search committee to bring transparency in appointment of high-level officials in different entities of the health sector.

It also suggested formation of an independent public service commission (health) to recruit manpower in the health sector. 

Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Commission Members Prof Md Muhammad Zakir Hossain, Prof Dr Liaquat Ali, Prof Dr Sayera Akther, MM Reza, Dr Azharul Islam, Prof Dr Syed Atiqul Haque, Dr Ahmed Ahsanur Rahman and Omair Afif also present at the press briefing.

Earlier, in the day, the Health Sector Reform Commission members, led by its chief Prof AK Azad Khan, handed over the report to Prof Yunus at about 11 am at the State Guest House Jamuna here.

In November 2024, the interim government formed a 12-member Health Sector Reform Commission.

The members are: Prof AK Azad Khan (chief), president of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh; Prof Md Muhammad Zakir Hossain of Public Health and Health Informatics Department at BSMMU; Prof Dr Liaquat Ali, chairman of Pothikrit Foundation; Prof Dr Sayera Akther, a gynecologist; Prof Dr Naila Zaman Khan, a neurologist, the Department of Pediatric Neuroscience; MM Reza, former secretary; Prof Dr Muzaherul Huq, former regional adviser (South-East Asia Region) at the WHO; Dr Azharul Islam, ICDDR,B; Prof Dr Syed Md Akram Hossain, Square Cancer Centre, Square Hospital; Prof Dr Syed Atiqul Haque, chief consultant of Green Life Centre for Rheumatic Care and Research; Dr Ahmed Ahsanur Rahman, scientist at ICDDR,B; and Omair Afif, a student of Dhaka Medical College.