Dhaka, Jul 07 (V7N) — Dr. Zubaida Rahman, Vice President of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has called for ensuring healthcare as a fundamental human right rather than a special privilege.
She made the remarks while addressing a workshop in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Tuesday morning.
Dr. Zubaida Rahman said that people in Bangladesh currently bear around 72 percent of their healthcare expenses out of their own pockets, placing a heavy financial burden on families and pushing many into poverty.
She stressed the need to establish universal health coverage, ensuring that quality healthcare services are accessible and affordable for every citizen.
Speaking at the same event, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government has introduced incentives in the medical equipment manufacturing sector in the current fiscal year's budget to encourage greater private-sector investment and strengthen the country's healthcare industry.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said the government has already begun implementing a programme to provide primary healthcare services at the village level, aiming to expand access to essential medical care for rural communities.
The speakers emphasized the importance of strengthening Bangladesh's healthcare system through increased investment, expanded coverage and greater participation from both the public and private sectors.
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