PM slams past govts over measles vaccine failure

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman criticised the previous two governments for what he described as an “unforgivable crime” in failing to ensure adequate measles vaccination coverage, calling it a “life-threatening failure”.

“We all have to be vigilant so that such incidents never happen again in the future,” he said while addressing the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers’ Conference-2026 at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium in Dhaka on Saturday.

He noted that, due to the current government’s emergency nationwide measles vaccination initiative, “it has been possible to prevent further deterioration of the situation, by the grace of Almighty Allah.”

The Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare organised the conference to make the activities of upazila health officials more effective in delivering healthcare at the grassroots level.

More than 500 Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers from across the country participated.

The Prime Minister acknowledged that specialist doctors and advanced diagnostic laboratories remain concentrated in Dhaka.

“The government is working to ensure advanced medical services through district and upazila-based hospitals,” he said, adding that reducing the urban–rural healthcare gap is a top priority.

“This cannot be achieved in a month or a year, but the government is progressing step by step towards this goal,” he added.

Highlighting the role of medical professionals, he said: “Physicians are the closest friends of people suffering from illness and true companions in times of crisis.

In many cases, a doctor’s advice and sincere behaviour play a more effective role than medicine.”

He stressed that doctors must develop not only professional excellence but also humane qualities.

Describing the government’s vision of a “Healthy Bangladesh”, he said the health policy presented before the national election is based on the principle that “prevention is better than cure.”

He added that upazila health officers play a crucial role in implementing preventive healthcare strategies.

According to health data, he said, 71 per cent of total deaths in the country are due to non-communicable diseases.

He also highlighted growing challenges from climate change-related illnesses, including respiratory diseases, stroke, and heart disease.

He called for regular screening of diabetes and high blood pressure at upazila level and increased public awareness of lifestyle changes.

The Prime Minister said the government plans to allocate five per cent of GDP to the health sector gradually.

He also announced plans to establish primary healthcare units in every upazila and union, modelled on the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) General Practitioner system.

He added that the government will recruit 100,000 “health carers” in phases, 80 per cent of whom will be women, to provide doorstep primary healthcare services.

An integrated e-health card system will soon be introduced to digitally store citizens’ health data, enabling easier access to treatment nationwide.

A national health insurance scheme is also being planned to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses.

“We must ensure comprehensive healthcare for mothers and children at any cost,” he said, stressing the need to make all upazila health complexes safe centres for maternity and child healthcare.

The Prime Minister also emphasised accountability in healthcare delivery and urged officials to transform their workplaces into “effective, accountable, sustainable, humane and pro-people healthcare centres.”

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain presided over the event, while State Minister Dr MA Muhit, Health Services Division Secretary Md Quamruzzaman Chowdhury, and DGHS Director General Professor Dr Pravath Chandra Biswas also spoke.

At the event, the Prime Minister awarded crests to six doctors for outstanding service at the upazila level.

The recipients were Dr Shovan Kumar Bashakh, Dr Manjur Al Morshed Chowdhury, Dr Mojibur Rahman, Dr Sajid Hasan Siddiqui, Dr Suman Kanti Saha, and Dr Tasnim Zubair.