The second session of "Shastha Chorcha", an initiative by WHO Bangladesh, brought together global experts and government officials to address key challenges and explore pathways toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Held on 25 June 2025 at the WHO Bangladesh Country Office in Dhaka, the forum served as a collaborative platform to exchange insights, foster partnerships, and explore innovative solutions for strengthening Bangladesh’s health system.

Introduced by Dr. Ahmed Jamsheed Mohamed, WHO Representative to Bangladesh, the forum was designed to break organizational silos and enhance collaboration across WHO’s technical units and external partners. The session focused on the  current global health landscape and its implications for advancing UHC in countries like Bangladesh, and how WHO and governments can work together to accelerate progress and featured a country case study on Thailand's UHC journey. “This forum aims to foster collaboration and drive collective action toward UHC in Bangladesh,” said Dr. Jamsheed. In the session, Prof. Tim Evans, Vice President, Concordia University and Former ADG, WHO HQ, and globally recognized health policy expert, delivered a compelling keynote on the shifting landscape of global health financing. Dr Evans said, “The challenge of out-of-pocket payments is perhaps the most significant financing issue". "We need bright minds for the future to focus on innovative solutions tailored to Bangladesh's economic realities to achieve UHC, " he added.