Reform commission to propose global-standard hospitals to curb medical tourism

Highlights: 

• Reform commission to recommend global-standard hospitals to reduce medical tourism
• Tax incentives proposed for hospitals developing specialized treatments locally
• Essential drug list to expand from 117 to 300 items
• Medical colleges will receive autonomy to manage budgets independently
• New law planned to protect both healthcare recipients and providers

To reduce the growing trend of patients seeking treatment abroad, the Health Sector Reform Commission is set to recommend the establishment of global-standard hospitals in Bangladesh, designated as Centres of Excellence.

The commission will also recommend improving the quality of medical colleges and offering tax incentives to private hospitals that develop specialised treatments locally.

Several commission members told TBS their recommendations include essential drug price regulation, e-prescriptions, support for medical device innovation, and legal safeguards for patients and providers.

A commission member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a significant number of Bangladeshis travel abroad for treatments such as cancer care, kidney, liver, and heart transplants, and infertility services.

"We will recommend developing treatment facilities for these diseases within medical colleges to ensure patients can access care domestically," said the member.

An online platform will also be set up where patients can lodge complaints if they are dissatisfied with the quality of care, he added.

To incentivise the private sector, the commission plans to propose tax holidays, VAT waivers, and other benefits for hospitals investing in infection control, transplant surgeries, or advanced cancer care services.

"This will improve local healthcare capacity and reduce the need for overseas treatment," the member explained.

Dr Abu Muhammad Zakir Hussain, another commission member, said, "We'll propose establishing Centres of Excellence hospitals in tourist-friendly locations to attract international patients as well."

The 12-member Health Sector Reform Commission, led by Prof AK Azad Khan, was formed in November 2024 and is expected to submit its proposals by 30 April.

Prof Azad Khan told TBS that their recommendations will cover short-, medium-, and long-term reforms aimed at modernising the health sector.

Essential drug pricing 

The commission is set to recommend a dedicated regulatory body to oversee and coordinate medicine pricing between the Directorate General of Drug Administration and pharmaceutical companies.

It will also propose expanding the essential drug list from 117 to 300 items, including medicines for non-communicable diseases. Some of these drugs will be available free of charge at community clinics.

The essential drug list will be updated every two years, according to another commission member.

Dr Syed Md Akram Hossain, also on the commission, said the government will establish a Drug and Medical Device Administration to support local innovation and commercialisation of medical devices.

Quality guidelines, medical college autonomy 

The commission also plans to recommend the formation of a "Bangladesh Institute of Centres of Excellence" to draft treatment guidelines for all diseases. These guidelines will be mandatory for all practising doctors.

A dedicated Quality Control and Improvement Unit will monitor compliance, with the power to take disciplinary action against violators.

Public medical colleges will be granted autonomy, allowing them to manage their own budgets and make independent development decisions, although they will be monitored by a proposed Bangladesh Health Commission.

Laws governing the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council and the Bangladesh Medical Research Council will also be modernised under the Health Commission's oversight.

The commission will also recommend a phased rollout of e-prescriptions – starting from major hospitals and gradually expanding to district and upazila levels.

It will propose transforming the National Institute of Population Research and Training (NIPORT) into a full-fledged national research and training institution.

Medical admission, regional health 

The commission will propose aligning the medical admission test system with international standards, such as those in the US, Australia, and Canada, while ensuring consistency with the English-medium curriculum.

The country will be divided into 11 health regions: one for each of the eight divisions, one for the hill tracts, and one each for Dhaka and Chattogram metropolitan areas. Each region will have its own regional, district, and upazila-level health services.

The commission will also recommend the introduction of a new law to protect both healthcare recipients and providers, ensuring safer and more accountable healthcare delivery across the country.