The prevalence of hypertension in Bangladesh is rising sharply, with the latest Bangladesh NCD STEPS Survey 2022 revealing that one in four adults is now affected—up from one in five previously.

To address this growing health crisis, experts emphasize the need for widespread availability of anti-hypertensive medications in grassroots healthcare facilities, along with sustainable funding to ensure an uninterrupted supply.

These recommendations were presented during a workshop for journalists titled “Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward,” held on October 22 at BMA Bhaban in the capital.

Organized by the research and advocacy group PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) in collaboration with Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), the event saw participation from 26 journalists across print, television, and online media.

During the workshop, it was highlighted that non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—including heart disease, stroke, cancer, kidney disease, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and hypertension—are leading causes of mortality in Bangladesh, accounting for 70% of total deaths.

Alarmingly, the budget allocation for combating NCDs is just 4.2% of the total health budget, a figure deemed insufficient to effectively tackle the risks associated with hypertension and other related diseases.

Among the speakers at the workshop were Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI; Zahirul Alam, Head of News at NTV; and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA. Presentations on hypertension control were delivered by PROGGA’s Director, Md. Shahedul Alam, and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova.

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