President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said the government began its work amid widespread challenges, but the health sector has made significant progress, stressing that better planning, transparency and accountability are essential to make healthcare more effective and people-oriented.
He made the remarks while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the BSCRS Congress 2026, organised by the Bangladesh Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, on Tuesday, October 27.
The president said the country’s healthcare sector had failed to achieve its desired progress in the past due to poor planning and corruption. He called for long-term strategies to improve the quality of medical services, strengthen the healthcare system and identify and address existing shortcomings.
The government has given the health sector the highest priority in budgetary allocations, he said, adding that increased funding alone would not be enough unless every unit of public money was spent effectively.
He stressed the need to ensure proper use of government funds, transparency and accountability in public expenditure, saying that effective utilisation of healthcare allocations would enable people to receive better medical services.
No one should be denied treatment for financial reasons
The president called for collective efforts to ensure that no one is deprived of medical treatment because of financial hardship.
Healthcare is closely linked to people’s basic needs, he said, stressing that economic constraints should not prevent anyone from receiving necessary treatment or force them to suffer without adequate care.
He also underscored the importance of expanding access to specialised medical services within the country so that patients would not have to travel abroad unnecessarily for advanced treatment.
To achieve this, Bangladesh needs to strengthen its healthcare capacity through improved specialised medical infrastructure, a skilled workforce and wider adoption of modern treatment methods, he said.
Focus on specialised care and new surgeons
Highlighting the importance of developing expertise in specialised fields, including colon and rectal surgery, the president expressed confidence in the next generation of surgeons and medical professionals.
He said emerging doctors and surgeons would play a crucial role in advancing the country’s healthcare sector and ensuring better treatment for the public.
The president’s remarks underscored the need to combine increased investment with stronger oversight, improved medical capacity and equitable access to healthcare to make the country’s health system more responsive to people’s needs.