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Misallocation contradicts rising NCD death toll » Online newspapers, live TV channels, radio

Broadcast United News Desk
Misallocation contradicts rising NCD death toll » Online newspapers, live TV channels, radio

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Deaths due to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasing dramatically in Bangladesh. However, budgetary allocations to combat NCDs remain grossly inadequate. In this context, public health experts have called for increased allocations in this area in the upcoming national budget for the fiscal year 2024-25. These recommendations were highlighted in a webinar titled “Budgetary Allocations to Combat NCDs: A Bangladesh Perspective” held on World Health Day, April 6, 2024. The webinar was organized by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), a research and advocacy organization, and supported by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). The theme of this year’s World Health Day is “My Health, My Rights”.

The webinar was informed that NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, kidney disease and respiratory diseases account for 70% of the total deaths in Bangladesh. A host of risk factors such as unhealthy eating habits, excessive sodium or salt intake, smoking, lack of physical work, air pollution and others are behind the surge in the prevalence of NCDs. However, the budget allocation for fighting NCDs is alarmingly low at just 4.2% of the total health budget. The webinar further revealed that despite the World Health Organization’s recommendation that countries allocate at least 15% of their total budget to the health sector, Bangladesh has allocated only 5% of its total budget to healthcare in the fiscal year 2023-24. The government’s budget support for health is one of the lowest in the WHO Southeast Asia region.

Professor Sohel Reza Choudhury, Director of Epidemiology and Research at the National Heart Foundation, said: “The prevalence of non-communicable diseases can be controlled to a large extent simply by reducing the risk of hypertension. It is crucial to ensure that the necessary funds are allocated in the upcoming budget to implement the decision to include anti-hypertensive drugs in the list of medicines in community clinics and to reduce the salt intake of the public.”

“Studies have shown that investing Tk1 in hypertension screening and medication can yield an overall benefit worth Tk18. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure sustainable funding for this sector besides increasing budget allocations to safeguard public health,” said Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, head of GHAI Bangladesh.

Dr. Laila Akhter, Director General, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) also participated in the webinar as one of the discussants. Sadia Galiba Prova, Coordinator, PROGGA delivered the keynote address and ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA moderated the webinar. Professionals from different parts of the country participated in the webinar.

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