There is no alternative to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to ensure quality healthcare for people of all walks of life in Bangladesh.
Speakers made the remarks at the national seminar on 'Engaging Policy Makers for Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Bangladesh' on Saturday.
The seminar was jointly organised by National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Diabetic Association, Kidney Foundation of Bangladesh and Shastho Surokkha Foundation.
Planning Minister MA Mannan MP was present as the chief guest at the seminar presided over by Prof Dr. Habibe Millat MP.
President Md. Abdul Hamid gave a message on the occasion of the UHC day.
From the seminar, it was announced to form a forum with the Members of Parliament on the implementation of UHC in Bangladesh and control of non-communicable diseases.
Speakers at the seminar remarked that the incidence of non-communicable diseases like heart disease, kidney disease, cancer and diabetes is increasing day by day in Bangladesh.
At present, these diseases are responsible for 67 percent of the total deaths in the country.
Low-income people are being deprived of adequate health care due to the high cost of treatment for these chronic diseases.
Huge expenditure to the treatment of the disease are pushing a large number of people below the poverty line.
Universal health coverage can solve these problems and ensure the healthcare needed for all.
The key focus of the UHC is to ensure that everyone receives quality medical care and that no one falls into poverty while paying for medical care.
President of National Heart Foundation of Bangladesh, National Professor Brigadier (Rtd.) Abdul Malik, President of Bangladesh Diabetic Association Prof. Dr. AK Azad Khan, President of the Kidney Foundation of Bangladesh Prof Harun Ur Rashid, President elect. of the International Diabetic Federation Prof. Akhtar Hossain, Executive Director of ICDDRB Dr. Tahmid Ahmed, and Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Planning Asadul Islam were present at the semnar.
Bandana Shah, South Asia region director of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK) joined the seminar virtually.
Among the MPs, ASM Feroze, Begum Meher Afroz Chumki, Nahim Razzak, Advocate Umme Kulsum Smriti, Shirin Akhtar, Shabnam Jahan, Arma Dutt, Nahid Izahar Khan, Aparajita Haque, Syeda Rubina Akhter Mira and Adiba Anjum Mita were present at the seminar.
