�Heath sector budget needs to be increased�

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim yesterday said the allocation for the health sector in the upcoming budget should be increased and he has already made a formal request to the finance minister in this context, reports BSS. “Health sector is running well with limited resources. But if we want to bring healthcare at peoples' doorsteps, the budgetary allocation needs to be increased," the minister said while speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of the World Health Day at Osmani Memorial Hall here. The World Health Day, this year, is observed in Bangladesh and world over with a focus on diabetes control. Nasim said the rich people can buy expensive healthcare at home and abroad but what happens to the poor, who depend on public sector services. The donors' funded health service could not reach this large populations and it was neither sustainable, he observed. "So, it is important to increase public sector allocation for health, especially for the majority of the population," he said. He also reminded that the funding from donors in health sector was shrinking on lame excuses. The health minister said the government has always been open to accommodate donors' advices but now a days it has become hard to swallow their all prescriptions and conditions. In all cases, he said, the government ensured transparency in donor-funded projects, while it was hard to make them happy. Mohammed Nasim urged adults to do little physical activity everyday and urged parents not to encourage their children to consume fast food as a status symbol. He also urged all to avoid sedentary lifestyle in order to remain healthy and prevent diabetes. Senior health officials, donors' representatives and leaders of Bangladesh Medical Association also spoke on the occasion.

�Heath sector budget needs to be increased�

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim yesterday said the allocation for the health sector in the upcoming budget should be increased and he has already made a formal request to the finance minister in this context, reports BSS. Health sector is running well with limited resources. But if we want to bring healthcare at peoples doorsteps, the budgetary allocation needs to be increased, the minister said while speaking as chief guest at the inaugural function of the World Health Day at Osmani Memorial Hall here. The World Health Day, this year, is observed in Bangladesh and world over with a focus on diabetes control. Nasim said the rich people can buy expensive healthcare at home and abroad but what happens to the poor, who depend on public sector services. The donors funded health service could not reach this large populations and it was neither sustainable, he observed. So, it is important to increase public sector allocation for health, especially for the majority of the population, he said. He also reminded that the funding from donors in health sector was shrinking on lame excuses. The health minister said the government has always been open to accommodate donors advices but now a days it has become hard to swallow their all prescriptions and conditions. In all cases, he said, the government ensured transparency in donor-funded projects, while it was hard to make them happy. Mohammed Nasim urged adults to do little physical activity everyday and urged parents not to encourage their children to consume fast food as a status symbol. He also urged all to avoid sedentary lifestyle in order to remain healthy and prevent diabetes. Senior health officials, donors representatives and leaders of Bangladesh Medical Association also spoke on the occasion.