Tk 36,863cr proposed for health sector

Considering the health sector as a priority, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal today proposed an allocation of Taka 36,863 crore for Health and Family Welfare sector in the next fiscal year 2022-2023 which was Taka 32,731 crore in the fiscal year 2021-2022. He said the allocation is meant for the overall development of the sector.

While placing the budget in next fiscal year, the finance minister said, "You are aware that since early 2020, the whole world has been passing through an unprecedented global crisis due to several waves of the COVID-19."

The health hazard still existed up until early 2022, he said, adding Bangladesh is continuously putting efforts to protect lives and recover the economy by revamping the health sector, reports BSS.

Considering the impact of the COVID-19 on public health, the COVID protocol is still being strictly observed, precautionary measures are being taken, plans are being formulated and adequate budget is being allocated to overcome the weakness of the health sector, Kamal added.

The purchase of vaccines on time and the mass vaccination of the population in a phased manner are among the key actions that have been taken by the government, he added.

"As a result, the spread of the virus has come under control and we have been able to reduce the death rate to a great extent compared to other countries. At the same time, the government has been able to protect lives and livelihoods by attaching priority to the health and family- welfare sector through adoption of medium and long-term plans," the finance minister added.

The finance minister said among the six priority sectors for development mentioned in the 8th Five Year Plan, the most significant are - 'Rapid Recovery from COVID-19 to Restore Human Health, Confidence, Employment, Income and Economic Activities'.

By giving the highest priority to this agenda, he said, the government is trying to boost up the confidence level of the people by strengthening the public health system, creating job opportunities by keeping economic activities normal.

At the same time, the government is continuously trying and taking initiatives to increase productivity, Kamal said, adding strengthening the health sector is the government's top priority sector in the medium and long-term plans for development.

In the second Perspective Plan (2021-2041), the government has a target to achieve development in various indicators of the health sector including the increase of the life expectancy to 80 years, he added.

Following the National Health Policy 2011, various strategies are being taken up to ensure quality health services for the people of all strata in the society, the finance minister said.

These include, among others, the adoption of the 4th Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Programme and the formulation of the Healthcare Financing Strategy (2012-2032), Kamal added.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, the government has set a unique example by preparing the vaccine strategy, allocating sufficient resources to procure vaccines and successfully completing the vaccination program covering all eligible populations in a phased manner.

"The National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP) under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) has been prepared and updated. The government has procured vaccines from the COVAX Cost Sharing Facility and through bilateral contracts from the manufacturers in India and China," Kamal said.

Free doses have been received through the global COVAX initiative and from the United States and other bilateral partners, he added.

During the first two years of the pandemic and in the ongoing fiscal year, the government has received budget support assistance and vaccine financing from numerous bilateral and multilateral development partners including the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Agence FranOaise de D,veloppement (AFD), Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF, Korea), European Investment Bank (EIB) and OPEC Fund Development (OFID).

The finance minister said these external assistances helped the government to improve the capacity of health and other key social sectors.

Following the declaration made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government is implementing the vaccination programme for all citizens of the country at free of cost, Kamal added.

"At the initial stage, 80 percent of the total population was planned to be vaccinated, but later the target was reduced to 70 percent as per the guidelines of WHO. In the earlier stage, the people who were under health-hazard risk were vaccinated on a priority basis. Later, all populations above 12 years of age have been included for vaccination. Government hospitals and health facilities were used as vaccination centers," he said.

The vaccination of the first doses started on 08 February 2021 and the second doses started on 08 April 2021. Later, the booster doses, approved by the WHO, was administered. While conducting the vaccination programme the gender balance has been ensured.

So far, a total of 12.9 crore first doses, 11.8 crore second doses and 1.5 crore booster doses have been administered, Kamal said.