Increased budgetary allocation must to combat hypertension

Speakers at a virtual journalist workshop on hypertension.

The number of individuals affected by hypertension is increasing rapidly in Bangladesh. While the provision of free medicine has already commenced to combat this surge, ensuring its availability in all healthcare facilities at the grassroots level is essential to effectively control hypertension and hypertension-related non-communicable diseases and deaths. At the same time, sustainable and increased funding is required for an uninterrupted supply of the medicine.    

Such recommendations were highlighted at a virtual workshop for journalists titled “Necessity of Increasing Budgetary Allocation to Combat Hypertension: Bangladesh Perspective” on 22nd February 2025. The workshop was organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). Forty-seven journalists from Sylhet division working in print, electronic, and online media houses participated in the workshop. 

It was informed at the workshop that 71% of total deaths in Bangladesh are attributed to non-communicable diseases such as heart diseases, stroke, cancer, kidney diseases, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and hypertension. However, the budgetary allocation dedicated to combat NCDs is alarmingly low, comprising only 4.2 percent of the total health budget. 

According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report published in 2024, continued supply of medicines is the primary challenge in NCD care. The report further mentioned that despite Bangladesh’s commitment to combat NCDs as part of Primary Health Care (PHC), allocations and fund utilization in this regard have yet to match the mandate.

ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA, was present at the event as discussant. PROGGA’s Director Md. Shahedul Alam and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova delivered presentations on hypertension control. – Press release