Field-level health services to be integrated to curb duplication: MA Muhit
Government is planning to recruit 1 lakh health workers
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare MA Muhit said the government is planning to integrate field-level healthcare services under a unified structure to reduce duplication and improve coverage across the country.
"Our health strategy is fundamentally based on strengthening primary healthcare. We want to build a completely reorganised and modern health system," he said today (7 May) at a policy dialogue titled "Primary Healthcare and National Family Planning Programme in Bangladesh" held at the CIRDAP auditorium in the capital.
Muhit said the existing family planning structure should not be viewed as a burden, but rather as a valuable asset. However, he stressed that the system must evolve to meet current demands.
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Highlighting the issue of overlapping responsibilities at the grassroots level, the state minister said around 40,000 workers currently operate separately under the health ministry, family planning services, and community clinics.
The government is now planning to recruit another 1 lakh health workers. Combined with the existing workforce, around 1 lakh 40 thousand workers will eventually be brought under a coordinated framework, he said.
According to Muhit, all workers under the new structure will follow a uniform job description and provide an "Essential Service Package" to ensure standardised healthcare delivery.
He also said the government's focus is shifting beyond population control toward broader public health goals, including disease prevention and health awareness.
"When separate workers visit the same household multiple times, duplication occurs, while many remote households remain uncovered. An integrated structure will help eliminate this coverage gap," he said.
He noted nearly 50% of people in the country currently purchase contraceptives privately.
With greater public awareness, he said, this figure could rise to 70%, reducing pressure on government resources and allowing more investment in public health improvement.
Speaking about healthcare financing, the state minister said inefficiency and delays in implementation are bigger challenges than funding itself.
He added the government plans to allocate the highest priority to the health and education sectors and gradually increase the size of the health budget.
Muhit also stressed the importance of using modern technology for real-time data collection and local-level planning.
