Telecom operators: The missing link in Bangladesh’s digital health journey

Bangladesh, a nation of more than 175 million people, has long struggled with gaps in its healthcare system. For many families, especially outside major cities, getting access to proper medical care is a major challenge. There are only about 7 doctors for every 10,000 people, one of the lowest ratios in the world, which means long waits, travelling long distances and little access to healthcare for many communities.

Only about 57% of Bangladeshis have access to basic healthcare and most of them are in urban areas. On top of that, the average monthly income of the population is about $216 or Tk26,000 (WHO 2025 report), yet healthcare expenses are often quite high. Many families think twice before seeking treatment simply because it may put pressure over their limited earnings. These realities have pushed Bangladesh to look for newer, more practical ways of receiving care without the usual financial or physical barriers.    

Rise of digital healthcare in Bangladesh

The Covid-19 pandemic changed how people think and perceive healthcare. When hospitals became difficult to reach, online consultations, e-pharmacy and online diagnostics, provided by digital platforms, became lifesavers. This shift opened the door to a new movement: the provision of digital healthcare supported by growing internet use, mobile penetration and digital payment.      

Today, Bangladesh's digital health ecosystem includes services such as online consultations, e-pharmacy services, lab test booking, micro-insurance, medical tourism, mental health support, women's health and many others. Platforms such as doctime, shukhee, medeasy, arogga, oshudhpotro, praava health, and amar lab have established strong footholds. Insurers like guardian life, green delta, and milvik have introduced micro-health products as well.

However, this ecosystem is predominantly reactive, focusing largely on illness-based care, with limited scope and provision of preventive care. Despite progress, the sector remains fragmented and uneven in reach. While some urban residents have embraced digital healthcare, rural adoption remains slow, in some cases, even untouched.     

Challenges faced by digital healthcare operators and why we need a solution

Bangladesh's progress in digital health faces a set of challenges that hold the system back:

Limited reach

Most digital health providers operate in a small scale and thus do not have nationwide networks or local presence in rural areas. This makes it hard for them to reach the people who need these services the most.

Trust barriers

Healthcare is an extremely personal service. Most users hesitate to rely on standalone and lesser-known digital platforms for medical advice, especially for sensitive or urgent issues.

Low awareness and digital literacy

Despite the recent rise in internet coverage and usage, a significant portion of the population remains unfamiliar with digital healthcare services and lacks confidence in using them.

Affordability challenges

Because these providers operate on a small scale, they incur large service costs. This makes it difficult for providers to offer low-priced healthcare services sustainably and in the long term.

Together, these barriers prevent digital healthcare from becoming a truly nationwide solution. A stronger, more reliable and more trusted system is needed. A system that can reach deep into rural Bangladesh while remaining affordable for the average citizen.          

The solution           
A practical and scalable solution lies in integrating telecommunication operators into the healthcare ecosystem. By leveraging their nationwide presence, trusted brand image and ability to offer mass-market pricing, telecom operators can overcome the barriers that digital health providers face individually, making healthcare truly accessible and affordable.  

Telecom operators as effective enablers in the digital ecosystem of Bangladesh

Unmatched distribution and reach across the nation

Bangladesh has over 186 million mobile connections and telecom networks cover 98 to 99% of the population with the help of their widespread infrastructure and network coverage. Telecom operators also maintain extensive retail networks with over 500,000+ outlets across the nation, allowing healthcare to reach even remote and underserved communities. Their existing infrastructure will be able to provide the backbone that digital health providers lack. 

High consumer trust and habitual usage

People interact daily with telecom brands due to the nature of the service. Their digital applications, namely MYGP, MYROBI and MYBL, are used by millions of customers and maintain some of the highest user ratings in the country (ranging from 4.4 to 4.7). This trust can be transferred directly into healthcare services delivered through the same platforms, making users more likely to engage. 

Mass awareness generation capabilities

Telecom operators have successfully driven nationwide awareness campaigns—from digital literacy initiatives to public health messaging in partnership with global bodies such as UNAIDS. Their ability to influence user behaviour makes them well-placed to accelerate digital healthcare adoption.

Affordable pricing through large-scale operations

Due to telecom companies operating on a national scale, they can offer healthcare services at extremely low prices. For instance, some telecom-enabled health packs start at Tk2.67 per day, including online doctor access and micro-insurance. Such affordability is achievable only by operating on a large scale.

Collectively, these factors make telecommunication operators not only partners but essential catalysts for expanding digital healthcare nationwide.

Global and national examples

Globally, two broad collaboration modalities exist between telecommunication and digital healthcare operators. One is partnership-based enablement, and the other includes telecommunication companies themselves launching their own subsidiaries or integrating healthcare deeply into their own ecosystem.           

India and Nigeria's telecom-health partnerships

• Airtel Nigeria teamed up with mobihealth to give users round-the-clock teleconsultation and e-pharmacy (online medicine and diagnostics) access across the nation. Healthcare being provided across the nation as well as at affordable rates as low as $4 per package, helped bridge Nigeria's healthcare gaps.  
• Airtel India partnered with Apollo 24/7 to offer exclusive healthcare benefits to millions of subscribers, offering services such as online consultation, diagnostics, e-pharmacy and others. Airtel customers (gold and platinum tier) gained access to extra privileges as well.
• Reliance Jio one of india's largest telecom companies, created Jiohealthhub, blending telecom reach with digital healthcare services. This is an example of telecommunication operators launching their own digital healthcare subsidiary.

Bangladesh's examples of telecom-health partnerships

Local telecom-health collaborations, such as Telenor Health and Robi's Health Plus, have already shown early success. Telenor Health and Robi's Health Plus successfully bridged many gaps by introducing affordable health packages and ensuring proper healthcare access through telecom channels.  Banglalink's BL Care (its digital healthcare entity), with the help of its digital ecosystem and retail distribution channel, also ensured online consultations within a 10-minute waiting time, e-pharmacy access, online diagnostics access, and a micro-insurance package (priced at $1/ month).   

Final thoughts

In summary, Bangladesh has made significant progress in digital healthcare, but the journey is far from complete. While digital healthcare providers have laid the groundwork, the challenges of access, trust, awareness, and affordability still prevent millions, especially in rural areas, from getting the care they need. Telecommunication operators, armed with the necessary tools, can bridge rural-urban divides and make digital healthcare truly accessible to all.

Arif al mannan is a digital healthcare enthusiast who has worked in digital product and growth management for over 7 years in a leading telecommunication operator in Bangladesh. E-mail: arif.zhink@gmail.com 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.