Half of population in Bangladesh seeks medical care from unqualified providers: Survey
The findings show that 54% of patients sought treatment from drugstore salespersons or practised self-medication, rather than consulting qualified medical practitioners
Approximately half of the population in Bangladesh seeks medical care from unqualified providers, according to a recent survey from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
The findings, shared yesterday at a dissemination event for the Health and Morbidity Status Survey (HMSS) 2025, show that 54% of patients sought treatment from drugstore salespersons or practised self-medication, rather than consulting qualified medical practitioners. Only 11.5% visited government health facilities, while about 20% turned to private providers.
Conducted on 1,89,986 individuals across 47,040 households between November and December last year, the survey also recorded widespread patient dissatisfaction and highlighted systemic challenges affecting health outcomes.
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Hypertension tops among 10 common diseases
The survey reveals that hypertension tops the list of the country's 10 most common diseases, affecting 78.28 per 1,000 people, followed by peptic ulcer, diabetes, arthritis, skin diseases, heart disease, asthma, osteoporosis, hepatitis and diarrhoea.
In the 90 days preceding the survey, 332 per 1,000 people (33%) reported falling ill, with women reporting a slightly higher illness rate than men. Experts warn that dependence on untrained providers has contributed to delayed diagnosis of chronic illnesses and rampant misuse of antibiotics.
Dr Abdus Shakur, registrar at the National Institute of Kidney Diseases and Urology, told The Business Standard that medication is not "magical"—its effectiveness requires correct dosage and clinical judgment.
"Taking medicines—especially antibiotics—on a shopkeeper's advice is extremely harmful. Drugs like meropenem were once considered revolutionary, but resistance has now become common in Bangladesh," he said.
He added that many kidney patients are unknowingly worsening their condition by taking unnecessary painkillers for prolonged periods based on pharmacy advice. Even for minor ailments, he stressed the need for at least one consultation with a qualified MBBS doctor to avoid irreversible complications.
Low hypertension control rate fuels health risks
Professor Dr Sohel Reza Choudhury, head of the Department of Epidemiology & Research at the National Heart Foundation, said that "Nearly one in four adults in Bangladesh lives with hypertension, yet only 16% manage to keep it under control—leaving 84% either undiagnosed, untreated, or poorly treated."
He said many patients stop taking medication once their blood pressure stabilises, increasing the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease. Weak screening mechanisms and treatment gaps further aggravate the situation.
He recommended bolstering primary healthcare services, ensuring uninterrupted medicine supply, training community health workers for early screening, encouraging routine blood pressure checks for people aged 30 and above, and expanding telemedicine access.
Average treatment cost Tk2,487 per person
The survey also sheds light on the financial burden of healthcare. In the three months preceding the survey, the average medical expenditure per person stood at Tk2,487, with women spending slightly more (Tk2,576) than men (Tk2,387). Despite greater reliance on public facilities, women incurred higher overall expenses.
Among women aged 15–49, the national Caesarean section rate reached 49.3%, rising to 53.3% in urban areas and standing at 48.1% in rural settings.
The average cost of childbirth was Tk22,655, including Tk5,658 for antenatal care and Tk13,060 for delivery. Urban mothers spent more—Tk26,360, compared to Tk21,554 in rural areas.
Disability, tobacco use remain major concerns
The HMSS 2025 found that 5.2% of the population lives with a physical or mental disability, with the rate rising slightly to 5.6% in urban areas. Among people aged 18 and above, the disability rate jumped to 7.1%, with treatment expenses averaging Tk7,269 in rural areas and Tk5,417 in urban areas.
Tobacco consumption remains widespread, with 26.7% of individuals aged 15+ using tobacco products. Usage was higher in rural areas (27.7%) than in urban ones (24.1%). The survey recorded tobacco use among 37.9% of males and 16.5% of females.
The findings collectively point to urgent gaps in healthcare access, awareness and preventive practices—issues experts say require immediate policy attention to avert worsening health outcomes nationwide.
