Health experts yesterday urged the government to take necessary initiatives and increase budget in health sector to provide quality health services to all in the country for achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), reports UNB. They also urged the authorities concerned to bring the alternative medicine in the mainstream health system along with the modern health services as it is very cheap for people. The speakers came up with the urges at a discussion marking the ‘Universal Health Coverage Day: 2017’ jointly organised by the Public Health Foundation of Bangladesh (PHFBD) and Rotary Club of Bikrampur at the National Press Club.

PHFBD vice-chairman Prof Dr Sharmeen Yasmeen presented the keynote paper at the discussion. In her keynote paper, she said UHC is the 8th component of health goal of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Under the umbrella of UHC all people should receive quality healthcare without financial hardship, she said adding that UHC is an essential strategy to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity.

Putting emphasis on generating fund for health and UHC, Sharmeen said currently in Bangladesh people spend 64 percent of total healthcare cost from their own pockets which pushes them towards poverty.

Supports from all the stakeholders along with the government and positive political commitment with good governance can contribute a lot to achieve the UHC, said Sharmeen.

The PHDBD executive director Dr Samir Kumar Saha demanded to appoint at least one alternative doctor by establishing community clinic in every upazila of the country so that people can easily reach them.

Bikrampur Rotary Club president MAKS Masum, BMA secretary general Dr Rashid E Mahbub, Prof Dr Mohammad Abu Sayeed, Dr Habibullah Talukdar Raskin, PHFBD president Fatema Ashraf spoke, among others, while Prof M Muzaherul Huq moderated the discussion.

Putting emphasis on ‘prevention is better than cure’ they called for raising awareness among people about the diseases that can be prevented.

They urged the authorities concerned to increase the number of doctors, nurses and medical technologists for ensuring healthcare of all people.