National
  Reform commission proposes free primary healthcare
  05-05-2025

Health Sector Reform Commission chief Prof AK Azad Khan has said that primary healthcare will be the basic right in the constitution and it must be free.

The commission also recommended allocation of 15 per cent of the national budget for the health sector, formation of a permanent health commission, formation of the Bangladesh Health Service, recruitment of primary care physicians by establishing primary healthcare centres in rural and urban areas, free supply of essential drugs at the primary level and at subsidised prices in other cases and shutting down substandard medical education institutes.

Prof Azad said this at a press conference at Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Monday.

Earlier this morning, the 12-member commission handed over the recommendations to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at the state guest house Jamuna around 11AM on Monday.

Other members of the commission Prof Dr Syed Md Akram, Dr Abu Mohammad Zakir Hossain, Prof Dr Liaquat Ali, Prof Dr Syed Md Akram Hossain, Prof Dr Syed Atiqul Haque, Prof Dr Sayera Akther, MM Reza, Dr Azharul Islam, Dr Ahmed Ahsanur Rahman and Omair Afif were present.

On 17 November, 2024, the Health Reform Commission was formed with National Professor and President of the Diabetic Association of Bangladesh Prof AK Azad Khan as its head.