Govt Identifying Health Sector Gaps: Dr. Zubaida Rahman

Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of the Prime Minister and Vice President of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, announced today that the government is actively identifying and addressing critical gaps in the national health sector. Speaking at a workshop in Gulshan titled "The Path to Becoming a Health Entrepreneur in Bangladesh," she emphasized that ensuring quality healthcare for every citizen is a top state priority.

Dr. Zubaida urged the younger generation to lead the way as "health entrepreneurs". She clarified that this role is not about commercializing medicine, but using evidence-based creativity to solve real-life health problems. To support this, she called for stronger links between young innovators, researchers, and government institutions. A major concern highlighted was the financial burden on the public. Currently, Bangladeshis pay 72% of their healthcare costs out-of-pocket, making illness a leading cause of poverty. Dr. Zubaida reaffirmed that healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege, and noted that the government is working to increase accountability to reduce this burden.

The health sector is also facing evolving threats, including climate change-related risks, an aging population, and a rise in non-communicable diseases. Dr. Zubaida stressed that these challenges require multi-sector partnerships and more practical, cross-disciplinary research within universities.

The event was also attended by Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain.