Photo : BSS

DHAKA, July 9, 2025 (BSS)- Speakers at a workshop here today recommended increased allocation in the health sector to address the growing non-communicable diseases.

Increased allocation in the health sector is essential with the growing prevalence of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NDCs) in Bangladesh, they said. 

Research and advocacy organization PROGGA with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) organized the workshop on “Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward” for journalists at a city hotel, a press release said.

Twenty-two senior journalists working in print, television and online media participated in the workshop.

The speakers said the budget for FY 2025-26 reflects a slight increase from the previous year with 5.3 percent of the total budget designated for health.

Experts emphasize that a substantial portion of this funding should be directed toward combating serious non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension. 

It was informed at the workshop that hypertension and various other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 71 percent of total deaths in Bangladesh. 

However, the budgetary allocation dedicated to combat NCDs is alarmingly low, comprising only 4.2 percent of the total health budget. 

As the provision of free medicine has already commenced to combat the prevalence of hypertension, it is essential to ensure the medicine’s availability in all Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes of the country.

The workshop highlighted that despite WHO’s longstanding recommendation and the recent endorsement by Health Sector Reform Commission to allocate 15 percent of the national budget for health, Bangladesh’s health budget has consistently remained around 5 percent, speakers deplored.

Sustainable funding is urgently required to strengthen the health system, particularly to combat non-communicable diseases like hypertension and to ensure an uninterrupted supply of anti-hypertensive medicines across all Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes, they said.

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI and ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA, were present at the workshop as discussants. 

PROGGA’s Director Shahedul Alam, Head of Programs Hasan Shahriar and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova delivered presentations on hypertension control. 

Senior journalist Zahirul Alam moderated a session on media's role in tackling hypertension, while journalist and convener of anti-tobacco media alliance (ATMA) Mortuza Haider Liton delivered the closing remarks.