No visible progress in health sector reform, Commission chief seeks CA’s intervention

There has been no visible progress in implementing the Health Sector Reform Commission's recommendations, said the commission's head, National Professor Dr AK Azad Khan. 

In a letter addressed to the chief adviser yesterday, he urged immediate action and proposed forming a National Health Advisory Committee to oversee the implementation of the commission's suggestions.

According to the letter, the Health Sector Reform Commission formally submitted its final report to the chief adviser on 5 May. However, nearly three months later, the government has taken no initiative to implement the recommendations. Even, no meeting has been held between the commission and the health and family welfare ministry.

The letter outlines three key proposals, which include formation of a high-level National Health Advisory Committee – led by the chief adviser – to swiftly implement the commission's recommendations. 

It also proposed to establish an independent and permanent Bangladesh Health Commission, responsible for planning, oversight, quality control, and accountability in the health sector. This body would report directly to the chief adviser.

To ensure primary healthcare is completely free for all citizens, necessary policy, administrative, organisational, and budgetary measures must be taken, the letter said.

The letter also states that the commission believes its recommendations offer a timely, practical, and coherent framework to address the sector's numerous structural weaknesses, governance gaps, and policy failures. Without the commission's active involvement, the implementation process risks becoming incomplete and unacceptable.

Dr Azad Khan expressed hope that just as the chief adviser demonstrated visionary and humane leadership during national crises, he will also take an active role in reforming the health sector.

On behalf of the commission,  Azad requested a meeting with the chief adviser, writing, "We would like to briefly apprise you of the importance of the commission's recommendations and strategies for their implementation."

Health reform: Experts demand action, not promises

Public health and policy leaders have called for immediate implementation of long-pending health sector reforms. 

Speaking at a dialogue co-hosted by PPRC, UHC Forum, and Unicef, experts criticised the lack of progress since the Health Sector Reform Commission's report was submitted three months ago. They stressed the need for a time-bound, empowered taskforce to lead legal, financial, and institutional reforms. 

Speakers at the policy dialogue – held yesterday at the Cirdap Auditorium – highlighted systemic challenges such as weak emergency care, low investment, and the absence of a national health financing plan.

They also emphasised that reform needs political will, not just technical plans.

Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman warned that without visible action, the Reform Commission's recommendations risk being forgotten like past policies.

He reiterated the importance of explicitly including health sector reform in the July Charter. 

The dialogue brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including senior public health professionals, policy researchers, former government officials, and media representatives. 

Dr Aminul Hasan, Dr Fida Mehran, Professor MA Faiz, Dr Syed Liaquat Ali, Dr Syed Akram Hossain, Dr Syed Abdul Hamid, Dr Zakir Hussain, Dr Sayed Rubayet, Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Dr Mushtaq Hossain, Shishir Morol, Dr Mohibullah, Shaila Purveen, Dr

Saiha Marjia, Dr Imran Ahmed Choudhury, Abdul Hakim Majumdar, and Shadab Mahmood spoke at the event.