Hypertension and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for 71% of deaths in Bangladesh.

However, the budget allocated to combat these diseases is significantly low, making up only 4.2% of the total health budget.

Experts are calling for increased funding in the upcoming FY 2025-26 budget to address the growing prevalence of hypertension in the country.

This call for action was made during a two-day workshop titled “Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress and Way Forward,” held at the BMA Bhaban in Dhaka on March 18-19, 2025.

The workshop, organized by the research and advocacy group PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) in collaboration with Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), was attended by 26 journalists from print, television, and online media.

The workshop highlighted the alarming statistics that one in every four adults in Bangladesh suffers from hypertension, a key risk factor for several non-communicable diseases.

While the government has begun providing free medicines to combat hypertension, experts stressed the need to ensure these medications are available in all Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes, backed by sustainable funding.

A 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) report revealed that, despite Bangladesh’s commitment to addressing NCDs within the Primary Health Care (PHC) framework, funding allocations and utilization remain insufficient.

The report also identified the continuous supply of essential medicines as a major challenge in managing NCDs.

Dr. Md. Enamul Haque, Additional Secretary and Director General of the Health Economics Unit (HEU), emphasized the need for increased budget allocation to tackle NCDs, stating, “In addition to raising the budget, it is essential to ensure the effective use of the allocated funds.”

Professor Dr. Syed Abdul Hamid from the Institute of Health Economics at Dhaka University highlighted the importance of increasing public awareness, strengthening screening programs, and ensuring that essential medicines are available in government hospitals. He also advocated for a boost in funding to combat NCDs.

Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI, argued that ensuring the availability of anti-hypertensive medicines in all Upazila Health Complexes and Community Clinics would significantly reduce the prevalence of hypertension and other NCDs in the country.

The workshop also featured discussions from experts including Dr. Mohammad Shawkat Hossain Khan, Program Manager at HEU; Dr. Geeta Rani Devi, Program Manager of Community-Based Health Care (CBHC) at DGHS; Dr. Md. Maruf Haque Khan from the Department of Public Health & Informatics at Bangladesh Medical University; Morshed Noman, Acting Editor of Bangladesh First; Dr. Tanmay Sarker from BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health; and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA.

PROGGA’s Director Md. Shahedul Alam and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova also delivered presentations on hypertension control during the workshop, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger policy action and adequate funding to address this critical public health challenge.

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