The rising prevalence of hypertension in Bangladesh has underscored the urgent need for increased budgetary allocation to combat the disease and related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Experts highlighted this during a virtual workshop for journalists on 22 February.
The event, titled “Necessity of Increasing Budgetary Allocation to Combat Hypertension: Bangladesh Perspective,” was organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). Forty-seven journalists from Sylhet division, representing print, electronic, and online media, participated.
Speakers emphasised the importance of ensuring free medicine availability across grassroots healthcare facilities to control hypertension effectively. They also called for sustainable and increased funding to maintain an uninterrupted supply of these essential medicines.
According to workshop discussions, 71% of all deaths in Bangladesh are attributed to NCDs such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, kidney diseases, diabetes, and hypertension. Despite this alarming figure, only 4.2% of the national health budget is allocated to combating NCDs, a figure experts deem insufficient to address the crisis.
A 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) report highlighted the continuous supply of medicine as the primary challenge in NCD care. The report also noted that Bangladesh's budget allocation and fund utilization for NCD management fall short of the commitments made under the Primary Health Care (PHC) framework.
ABM Zubair, executive director of PROGGA, emphasised the critical need for enhanced funding during his address at the workshop. PROGGA’s Director Md. Shahedul Alam and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova presented insights on hypertension control strategies and challenges.
The speakers stressed that without increased and consistent budgetary support, efforts to curb hypertension and related NCDs would remain inadequate, putting millions at risk.
