On this anniversary of the Monsoon Revolution, a quiet revolution in health is underway — one that could redefine how Bangladesh delivers care to its 170 million citizens.

Replacing fragmentation with unified design, inefficiency with digital transparency, and emergency mindset with preventive strength, the health reform blueprint presented on May 5 by National Professor AK Azad Khan charts an ambitious path toward a quality‑driven, inclusive and resilient healthcare system.

Nearly six decades after independence and decades of public hospital expansion, Bangladesh still spends less than 1% of its GDP on health — among the lowest in South Asia — with out-of-pocket payments accounting for over 70% of costs faced by patients.

Public expenditures in FY2025 represented just 0.74% of GDP and 5.2% of the national budget on paper, though experts note the Health Reform Commission recommends a bold floor of 5% of GDP and 15% of the national budget to achieve universal coverage and financial protection for citizens.

Health experts and civil society analysts argue these figures have constrained staffing, infrastructure, and equipment for too long — keeping even routine care beyond reach for many.