But the health sector would get only 4.04 percent which was 5.13 in the 2016-17’s proposed budget. The proposed budget for health was 5.29 percent of the total outlay in 2015-16, 4.99 percent in 2014-15, 4.96 in 2013-14 and 4.87 percent in 2012-13. It’ll be difficult for the doctors to provide treatment at state-run hospitals,” the former Bangladesh Medical Association president told bdnews24.com. “With this budget, it is clear that health sector is not an issue of national importance for the government,” he fumed: “Maybe the government is encouraging private sector to provide healthcare.”Public health expert Dr Khairul Islam also termed the proposed budget “frustrating”. Islam said he observed that in the last three years, health budget is being reduced both in terms of percentage of the total budget and GDP ratio.

Source: bd News24 June 01, 2017 15:33 UTC