Health care key to true prosperity: Rizvi

BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said on Friday that genuine national prosperity is not possible without improving the quality of healthcare.

He made the remarks while addressing a discussion organised at the Jatiya Press Club in the afternoon to mark World Pharmacist Day 2026.

Rizvi said, “Economic growth, increased income or foreign exchange reserves alone are not enough to improve people’s quality of life. Enhancing people’s capabilities and ensuring access to proper healthcare are also important indicators of national prosperity.”

Referring to the proposed electronic health card, he said such an initiative could help ensure people’s right to healthcare more effectively. The card could also create a system for ensuring patients’ access to treatment and necessary medicines, he noted.

He further said, “Hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders will have to be brought under an integrated management system to make such a healthcare system effective. Alongside doctors’ responsibilities, there should also be a mechanism to ensure that patients receive the medicines they need.”

Rizvi stressed the need to develop the country’s pharmaceutical sector. He said authorities often conduct drives against counterfeit and substandard medicines, while the pharmaceutical industry should also be strengthened through modern technology and improved management.

He said, “Many poor and vulnerable people still struggle to access quality healthcare. Effective implementation of initiatives such as electronic health cards can help ensure better healthcare for them.”