Hypertension control must be prioritised in budget: Experts

Public health experts have urged the government to ensure a significant increase in budgetary allocation to combat the growing prevalence of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the upcoming national budget for FY 2025-26.

The public health experts came up with the demand at a two-day long workshop for journalists titled "Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward", held at the capital's BMA Bhaban today (19 March).

The two-day workshop began on 18 March.

The event was organised by PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).

Twenty-six journalists from print, television and online media participated in the workshop.

Speakers also noted that hypertension and various other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 71% of total deaths in Bangladesh.

However, the budgetary allocation dedicated to combat NCDs is alarmingly low, comprising only 4.2% of the total health budget.

It was informed at the workshop that one in every four adults in Bangladesh suffers from hypertension and it is one of the major risk factors for several non-communicable diseases.

While the provision of free medicine has already commenced to combat the prevalence of hypertension, it is essential to ensure the medicine's availability in all Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes of the country along with sustainable funding required for this purpose.

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report published in 2024, despite Bangladesh's commitment to combat NCDs as part of Primary Health Care (PHC), allocations and fund utilization in this regard have yet to match the mandate.

The report further mentioned continued supply of medicines as the primary challenge in NCD care.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr Md Enamul Haque, director general (additional secretary), Health Economics Unit (HEU) said, "In addition to increasing budgetary allocation to tackle non-communicable diseases, it is also crucial to ensure effective implementation of the allocated funds."

Professor Dr. Syed Abdul Hamid, Institute of Health Economics, Dhaka University, said, "It is crucial to increase public awareness, strengthen screening programs and ensure the availability of essential medicines in government hospitals to prevent and control non-communicable diseases, while simultaneously increasing the budget in this regard."

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI said, "By ensuring anti-hypertensive medicine in all Upazila Health Complexes and Community Clinics, substantial reduction in the prevalence of hypertension and non-communicable disease can be achieved."

Dr Mohammad Shawkat Hossain Khan, program manager (deputy secretary), Health Economics Unit (HEU); Dr Geeta Rani Devi, program manager, Community Based Health Care (CBHC), DGHS, Dr Md Maruf Haque Khan, Department of Public Health & Informatics, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU); Morshed Noman, acting editor, Bangladesh First; Dr Tanmay Sarker, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health of BRAC University and ABM Zubair, executive director, PROGGA, were present at the workshop.

PROGGA's Director Md Shahedul Alam and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova delivered presentations on hypertension control.