Health Budget Increased but Allocation in Right Project Must Be Ensured

The proposed national budget for FY 2026-27 marks a significant milestone for Bangladesh’s health sector. For the first time, the health budget has crossed the 1 per cent threshold of GDP, reaching Tk 69,409 crore, equivalent to 1.01 per cent of GDP, up from 0.58 per cent in FY 2025-26. The health sector’s share of the national budget has also increased from 5.3 per cent to 7.4 per cent, signalling a stronger commitment to advancing the nation’s health and development priorities. Indeed, this marks an important milestone. At a time when Bangladesh is striving to strengthen its healthcare system and achieve its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), increased public investment in health reflects a long-awaited recognition of the sector’s importance. 
For years, public health experts, civil society organisations and development partners have called for greater health financing. They have consistently argued that this spending is essential for improving health and also acts as a foundational investment required to alleviate poverty, enhance human capital, and drive long-term economic growth.
So, the increased allocation is surely a welcome step. However, a larger budget alone will not reduce the country’s growing disease burden unless the additional resources are directed to where they are needed most. Effective health financing is not simply about spending more; it is about spending wisely. Resource allocation must reflect the country’s disease burden, shifting funds to the health crises affecting the largest number of people. In this regard, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) demand urgent attention.

Over the past decade, Bangladesh’s disease profile has changed significantly. Today, NCDs such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory illnesses account for approximately 71 per cent of all deaths in the country. Yet, only 4.2 per cent of the health budget is allocated to NCD prevention and control. This mismatch between disease burden and resource allocation raises serious concerns about whether national spending is aligned with Bangladesh’s evolving health needs.
Among all NCDs, hypertension stands out as one of the country’s most pressing public health challenges. According to the Health and Morbidity Status Survey 2025 by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, hypertension is the leading disease among the country’s top ten health conditions. It is also a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease, making its prevention and control essential to reducing the broader burden of NCDs.
What makes hypertension particularly dangerous is that it often develops silently. Many people remain unaware that they are living with the condition until serious complications occur. According to the World Health Organization’s 2025 report, nearly half of people living with hypertension in Bangladesh are unaware of their condition. Among those affected, only 39 per cent receive treatment, while just 16 per cent are able to keep their blood pressure under control.
These figures reveal a profound gap between the scale of the problem and the level of investment dedicated to addressing it. Bangladesh currently spends only $0.08 per capita on NCD prevention and control, far below the WHO-recommended benchmark of $1.50. At the same time, nearly 69 per cent of total health expenditure in the country is financed through out-of-pocket expenditures. For millions of people living with chronic conditions that require lifelong treatment, this creates a substantial financial burden and often leads to delayed care, interrupted treatment, and poorer health outcomes.
Bangladesh has committed to achieving SDG Target 3.4, which aims to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030. Achieving this target will require more than policy commitments. It needs sustained and strategic investment in proven, cost-effective interventions. For hypertension, a major driver of non-communicable diseases, effective control requires ensuring the availability of free essential medicines at the grassroots level, adequate budget allocation for antihypertensive drugs, strengthened long-term follow-up care, and expanded access to screening and early diagnosis. Together, these measures can substantially improve both the prevention and control of hypertension and reduce the overall burden of non-communicable diseases. Research shows that investing in hypertension screening and treatment is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve public health. Every taka invested can generate nearly eighteen times the return by reducing healthcare costs, improving productivity, and preventing expensive complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and other NCDs. These interventions are not only effective in saving lives but are also highly cost-efficient, helping reduce the long-term economic burden on both households and the healthcare system.
The increase in health sector allocation presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen Bangladesh’s response to the growing threat of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases. As the government determines how the additional resources will be distributed, greater priority should be given to NCD prevention and control, particularly hypertension. Investments should align more closely with the realities of Bangladesh’s disease burden and support interventions that deliver measurable health and economic benefits.
Ultimately, the success of this budget will not be judged solely by the size of the allocation but based on how effectively the resources are used. If Bangladesh is genuinely committed to achieving its SDG target 3.4, greater investment in the prevention and control of NCDs, particularly hypertension, must become a national priority. Aligning health spending with the country's disease burden will save lives, reduce healthcare costs, and strengthen Bangladesh's progress toward a healthier and more productive future.
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Mohammad Al Amin is Vice President of Bangladesh Health Reporters Forum and Deputy Editor of the Daily Sun, and Samiha Bintay Kamal is Program Officer at PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress)