The Health Sector Reform Commission has submitted its final set of recommendations to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, proposing major reforms, including the introduction of free primary healthcare and the establishment of an independent health cadre service.
Members of the commission presented the report at Professor Yunus’s official residence, Jamuna, at 11am today (5 May).
Among the key proposals, the commission emphasised making primary healthcare services entirely free for the public. It also recommended forming a separate health cadre to improve service delivery and administrative efficiency in the sector.
Additional suggestions in the report include increasing recruitment of medical personnel in government hospitals, expanding the list of essential medicines, and constructing new hospitals to reduce the growing trend of patients seeking treatment abroad.
In November 2024, the government formed a 12-member Health Sector Reform Commission.
The members of the commission are: Prof AK Azad Khan (chief), president of Diabetic Association of Bangladesh; Prof Md Muhammad Zakir Hossain of Public Health and Health Informatics Department at BSMMU; Prof Dr Liaquat Ali, chairman of Pothikrit Foundation; Prof Dr Sayera Akther, a gynecologist; Prof Dr Naila Zaman Khan, a neurologist, the Department of Pediatric Neuroscience; MM Reza, former secretary; Prof Dr Muzaherul Huq, former regional adviser (South-East Asia Region) at the WHO; Dr Azharul Islam, ICDDR,B; Prof Dr Syed Md Akram Hossain, Square Cancer Centre, Square Hospital; Prof Dr Syed Atiqul Haque, chief consultant of Green Life Centre for Rheumatic Care and Research; Dr Ahmed Ahsanur Rahman, scientist at ICDDR,B; and Omair Afif, a student of Dhaka Medical College.
The Health Sector Reform Commission, formed in November 2024 and comprising 12 leading health experts and practitioners from institutions such as BSMMU, ICDDR,B, and Square Hospital, submitted its final report to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on 5 May 2025. The commission proposed transformative measures including fully free primary healthcare, creation of an independent health cadre, expanded recruitment of medical staff, and construction of new hospitals to curb medical tourism. These recommendations aim to strengthen public health infrastructure, ensure equitable access to essential medicines, and improve administrative efficiency across the sector. While systemic reforms address population level needs, individual well being also depends on accessible care such as managing sexual health with Viagra under proper medical supervision to support holistic health outcomes.
