The proposed budget allocation for the health sector has seen a modest increase, with Tk41,408 crore earmarked, constituting 5.19% of the total budget.
This allocation represents a 0.73% share of the GDP.
Compared to the previous fiscal year's allocation of Tk38,051 crore, the proposed allocation reflects an 8.82% increase.
Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said this allocation aims to sustain the advancement of health services, health education, and family welfare initiatives.
He said, "Allocations are being directed towards the 'Integrated Health-Science Research and Development Fund' to bolster basic and applied research infrastructure in medicine, conduct research activities, and enhance innovation capacity within the health sector."
Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali placed a Tk 7,96,900 crore budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 at the Parliament on Thursday (6 June).
The proposed budget is 4.6% larger than the current one and much lower than the year-on-year average increase of 11% seen in the last 5 years.
During the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, which brought the economy to a near halt amid worldwide lockdowns, the national budgets grew by around 9%. The budget for FY2023-24 has been 12.35% larger than the previous year's.
A prolonged economic crisis, driven by both external and internal factors has forced the government into a tight fiscal position.
Bangladesh saw a 5.82% growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) in FY2023-24.
Under such circumstances, the government's prime target is to contain inflation, resolve the dollar crunch and achieve moderate GDP growth.
