Sustainable financing urged to combat rising hypertension burden
Speakers at a webinar marking World Health Day have called for urgent and sustained financing to tackle the growing burden of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Bangladesh, warning that current budget allocations remain insufficient to meet rising healthcare demands.
The webinar, titled “Sustainable Financing for Hypertension Control: Bangladesh Perspective,” was organised by PROGGA with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator on Monday, ahead of this year’s World Health Day, to be observed on 7 April under the theme “Science in Healthcare, Protecting All Lives”, said a press release.
Participants highlighted a significant gap in sustainable financing despite the alarming increase in hypertension cases across the country. According to the 2025 Health and Morbidity Status Survey by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, hypertension now ranks first among the top ten diseases in Bangladesh. Non-communicable diseases account for 71 per cent of all deaths, yet only 4.2 per cent of the national health budget is allocated to this sector.
Experts noted that although the government has taken a landmark decision to provide hypertension medicines through Community Clinics, implementation remains inconsistent due to limited financial resources. This has particularly affected marginalised populations, who continue to face barriers in accessing free and regular medication.
Dr. Md. Enamul Haque, Director General (Additional Secretary) of the Health Economics Unit, stressed the need for increased budgetary support. He said that ensuring a steady supply of hypertension medicines across Community Clinics would require not only higher allocation but also more efficient and strategic use of existing funds.
Echoing similar concerns, Professor Dr. Sohel Reza Choudhury of the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute described hypertension as a “silent killer” and a leading cause of premature death. He noted that uninterrupted access to medication at the primary healthcare level could significantly reduce associated health risks.
Professor Dr. Syed Abdul Hamid from the Institute of Health Economics at the University of Dhaka emphasised that financing alone would not be sufficient. Effective implementation of public health policies and programmes, he said, must go hand in hand with increased investment.
From the pharmaceutical sector, Md. Riad Arafin of Essential Drugs Company Limited pointed out that adequate funding would help ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential medicines, particularly for vulnerable communities.
Meanwhile, Doulot Akter Mala, President of the Economic Reporters’ Forum, underlined the disparity between the high mortality rate from NCDs and the low level of public spending in the sector, urging policymakers to prioritise health in the upcoming 2026–27 national budget.
Other speakers included Muhammad Ruhul Quddus of GHAI and Dr. Abu Jamil Faisel, President-elect of the Public Health Association of Bangladesh. The session was chaired by ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, and moderated by Samiha Bintay Kamal.
Journalists, civil society representatives, subject-matter experts and participants from across the country joined the discussion, collectively calling for stronger policy commitment and sustainable financing to address the growing public health challenge posed by hypertension.
