Open tender decision triggered measles-rubella vaccine crisis: Health minister
Unicef had warned that changing the established procurement system could disrupt supplies of the life-saving vaccines.
A decision to shift from the longstanding system of procuring vaccines to open tender, disregard of warnings from Unicef and subsequent bureaucratic complications led to a measles-rubella vaccine crisis in Bangladesh, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain told parliament today (7 September).
Although vaccines were available in international warehouses, shipments were delayed because final approvals and release of funds were not provided on time from Dhaka, he said in a written response to a question from Gopalganj-1 MP Md Salimuzzaman Molla during the question-answer session.
Bangladesh had long procured WHO-approved measles vaccines directly through the international supply system via Unicef and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi), according to the minister's written response.
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However, in September 2025, the interim government decided to replace the established system with procurement through open tender.
After the new system was introduced, the vaccine procurement process became stuck in administrative and bureaucratic complications involving files and paperwork, the written response said.
As a result, despite vaccines being available in international warehouses, final approval and release of funds from Dhaka could not be completed on time, causing lengthy delays in shipments reaching Bangladesh.
During the first six months of the interim government, emergency treatment and rehabilitation of people injured in the July Uprising were given the highest priority, leaving limited scope to focus adequately on the urgent needs of the routine immunisation programme, according to the response.
Overall, the written response identified changes to the vaccine procurement policy, administrative and bureaucratic complications after shifting to open tender, failure to adequately consider Unicef's warnings, insufficient attention to routine immunisation and cancellation of the special MR campaign as key factors behind the vaccine crisis.
Tk83,315cr allocated over two fiscal years
Meanwhile, information presented in parliament showed that Tk83,315 crore was allocated over the past two fiscal years for the Health Services Division and the Health Education and Family Welfare Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Of this, Tk41,407 crore was allocated in fiscal 2024-25 for health sector development and maintaining healthcare services. The allocation increased to Tk41,908 crore in fiscal year 2025-26.
According to the written response, the ministry's allocations were mainly spent under two broad categories: operational and development expenditure.
Operational spending included salaries and allowances for officials and employees at healthcare centres and hospitals, free medicines and medical supplies for patients at government hospitals, regular maintenance of healthcare infrastructure and equipment, and administrative expenses.
Development spending covered construction of new hospital buildings and specialised healthcare centres, infrastructure development, procurement of modern medical equipment and technology, and procurement and nationwide distribution of vaccines against measles, rubella and other diseases under the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).
Funds from the development allocation were also used for specialised training and higher education programmes to improve the skills of health sector personnel.
