Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Sept 4, 2025 (BSS) - More than five lakh patients suffering from high blood pressure have received free treatment and medicines under the Bangladesh Hypertension Control Initiative (BHCI), a nationwide programme aimed at combating non-communicable diseases.

According to official data, a total of 518,148 hypertension patients have so far been treated at Upazila Health Complexes across the country, with 57 percent of them successfully achieving controlled blood pressure.

In Dhaka Division alone, 113,192 patients are currently receiving treatment under the initiative, while 58 percent of them have their blood pressure under control.

The information was disclosed at a divisional coordination meeting held today at the office of the Divisional Director (Health), Dhaka, said a press release.

The meeting reviewed the ongoing achievements and outlined future strategies of the BHCI, which operates under the Non-Communicable Disease Control (NCDC) Programme of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The initiative receives technical support from the National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh and the global health organization Resolve to Save Lives.

Keynote presentations were delivered by Divisional Programme Officer Md. Sajjad Hossain and Surveillance Medical Officer Dr. Md. Ahsan-uz-Zaman, who highlighted the programme's impact and insights on its expansion.

They highlighted that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 71 percent of total deaths in Bangladesh, of which 34 percent are due to hypertension and related cardiovascular diseases. 

In response, the government's NCDC Programme is currently implementing BHCI activities in 310 Upazila Health Complexes across 44 districts.

They further noted that the use of the digital health tool NCD-BD app (formerly the Simple app) has improved patient tracking, follow-ups, and overall treatment delivery. As a result, the national blood pressure control rate has improved from 20 percent to 60 percent.

Dhaka Divisional Health Director Dr. Mohammad Jahangir Alam said that the rising number of deaths caused by NCDs is alarming. To address this, the government is distributing free medicines for hypertension patients through NCD corners in all Upazila Health Complexes, he added.

Professor Sohel Reza Chowdhury, Head of Epidemiology and Research Department at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute and BHCI Director said that around 24.6 percent of Bangladeshi adults suffer from hypertension, but only one percent of the seven percent are under regular treatment and able to keep their blood pressure controlled. 

He said that ensuring regular check-ups and free treatment at the primary level can significantly reduce this preventable mortality. Moreover, BHCI's implementation is strengthening primary healthcare to better respond to NCDs, he added.

Professor Syed Zakir Hossain, Line Director of the NCDC Program at DGHS, said, "The full implementation of the WHO HEARTS package and strengthening digital health services will help Bangladesh meet both national and global NCD reduction targets by 2030. This initiative will also make a vital contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)."

Officials concerned were the other participants at the meeting.