Desk Report:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said that the government is adopting and implementing realistic plans to make the country’s health and medical system modern, effective and self-sufficient. There is a plan to gradually increase the allocation to the health sector to 5 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the next five years.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while addressing the doctors’ rally organized as the chief guest on the occasion of the 37th founding anniversary of the Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) at the LD Hall premises of the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Saturday (August 8, 2026).
Earlier in the morning, the Prime Minister formally inaugurated the doctors’ rally. She was accompanied by her wife and Vice Chairman of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, Dr. Zubaida Rahman. At the beginning of the rally, the Prime Minister and Dr. Zubaida Rahman planted neem and arjun saplings in the LD Hall premises. Later, the ceremony was officially inaugurated by hoisting the national and party flags and releasing balloons and pigeons, the symbol of peace.
The Prime Minister said that the government’s basic principle in the field of medical services is – ‘Prevention is better than cure’. In light of this principle, special emphasis is being given to preventive healthcare. Initiatives have been taken to strengthen primary healthcare, recruit one lakh new health workers, introduce e-health cards and upgrade upazila hospitals to 101-bed hospitals.
She said that for the first time in the country’s history, the second highest budget has been allocated to the health sector. There is a plan to gradually increase the allocation to the health sector to 5 percent of the GDP in the next five years.
The Prime Minister told the doctors that it is not possible to achieve the desired success in the health sector by only doing infrastructural development. Doctors must be dedicated to their responsibilities with a service mentality. Unintentional negligence or laxity in discharging their duties can not only question the government’s activities but also create distrust in the public about doctors and the overall medical system.
He said that despite the limitations of doctors in performing their duties, the people of the country expect them to play a more responsible and humane role. Doctors will have to perform their duties with more sincerity to fulfill the expectations of the people.
The Prime Minister further said that when the current government took office, it found a fragile state, a weak economy, a divided administration, and a fragile education and health system. The government is working to turn the country around from that situation.
He said that the beneficiaries of fascism in the state, politics, governance, and administration are still not sitting still. In recent times, a clique has been active in trying to destabilize the energy and power sectors in a clever way. However, the government is dealing with these situations through positive initiatives.
Tarique Rahman said that the government has taken realistic plans to make every sector, including education, health, and energy, self-sufficient and self-reliant and is implementing them. One of the government’s goals is to make the country’s health and medical system modern and self-sufficient, as well as ensure more people-friendly medical services for the people.
Assuring that the various proposals presented by the doctors will be seriously considered, the Prime Minister said that the government will take necessary initiatives to resolve the problems and limitations of the doctors.
She said that the government and the medical community must work together to build a medically friendly Bangladesh where every person in the country gets quality healthcare and does not have to go abroad for better treatment.
The Prime Minister said, “Let us all work together to build a medically friendly Bangladesh where every person in the country gets quality healthcare and does not have to go abroad for better treatment, InshaAllah.”
