Record allocation, focus shifts to delivery

The proposed national budget has almost doubled allocation for the health sector, with Tk69,409 crore earmarked for FY2026–27, compared with Tk35,477 crore in the revised budget of the previous fiscal year.

The allocation now represents 1.01 per cent of GDP, up from 0.58 per cent, marking one of the most significant increases in recent years for the sector.

Despite the record allocation, experts say the key challenge will be not the size of the budget but its timely and efficient implementation.

The government has outlined an extensive healthcare expansion plan, including upgrading 462 upazila hospitals from 50 to 101 beds, establishing five children’s hospitals, eight cancer institutes, two specialised hospitals, and 18 general hospitals with 1,000 beds each.

It also plans to recruit 5,000 doctors and 100,000 health workers, alongside introducing helicopter services for emergency patient transport.

While the increased allocation has been broadly welcomed, health sector analysts caution that the ministry’s long-standing difficulties in utilising its development budget raise concerns over delivery capacity.

Sardar Sakhawat Hossain said the government is determined not to return “a single taka” from this year’s allocation, adding that healthcare services must be delivered to people’s doorsteps.

A major focus of the budget is strengthening primary healthcare at the grassroots level. The planned expansion of upazila hospitals is expected to ease pressure on district hospitals and facilities in Dhaka.

However, experts warn that increasing bed capacity alone will not be sufficient without corresponding recruitment of doctors, nurses, technologists and support staff.

The reopening of five children’s hospitals in Khulna, Barisal, Rangpur, Rajshahi and Cumilla is also seen as a positive development that could reduce reliance on Dhaka for paediatric and specialised care.

Sector insiders, however, argue that the recruitment drive should be more balanced. Alongside doctors and nurses, they highlight an urgent need for optometrists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and nutritionists.

Dhaka University Institute of Health Economics Professor Dr Syed Abdul Hamid said the central challenge lies not in allocation but in spending capacity. He warned that without timely implementation, increased funding may fail to deliver expected benefits.

He added that unless the allocated funds are fully utilised, the public will not gain from the enhanced budget provision.

Dhaka University Health Economics Department Professor Dr Rumana Haque also noted that past experience shows that even when allocations are increased, delays in project implementation prevent citizens from receiving the intended benefits.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain reiterated the government’s commitment to full utilisation of the budget, expansion of upazila hospital capacity, recruitment of manpower, and the introduction of helicopter and modern ambulance services for emergency patient transport.