Don't leave healthcare to profit-driven actors: Prof Yunus

Prof Humus speaking at a high-level UNGA workshop on healthcare on Thursday.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has cautioned against leaving healthcare in the hands of profit-driven actors, emphasising that in healthcare, profit maximisation often becomes the priority.

"In the case of healthcare, it may be money making, very simply. Profit maximisation is behind that. So, healthcare gets derailed because of the money making approach,” he said.

Prof Yunus made the remarks while speaking at the UNGA high-level working session on ‘Transforming Primary Healthcare – Bangladesh's Blueprint’ in New York on Wednesday.

While there are vast opportunities to generate profit in the name of healthcare, this approach poses risks, he said, adding, “We raised a fundamental issue – medicine and healthcare should not be left to profit-seekers alone. I am not saying they are bad people, but healthcare must not be driven solely by them.”

Highlighting vaccine inequities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Yunus pointed out that the distribution was ‘deeply flawed’, with 10 countries receiving around 80 percent of global vaccine supplies.

He advocated for the social business model in healthcare, emphasising their potential to address social problems worldwide.

Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, BRAC Executive Director Dr Asif Saleh and NCP leader Dr Tasnim Jara also attended the event. - UNB