The July uprising has sparked new hope for positive changes in Bangladesh. However, health sector reforms have received less attention, especially from key stakeholders.
Here, I will address some key issues that need to be prioritised for effective health sector reform in Bangladesh.
Health is the foundation of all other human rights. It is, therefore, important to declare health and medical care as a fundamental right of citizens in the Constitution and enforce this constitutional right through law.
Health is not explicitly mentioned as a fundamental human right in the 1972 Constitution of Bangladesh. The Constitution recognises medical care as a basic necessity of life and asserts that it is the state's responsibility to secure "the provision of the basic necessities of life, including food, clothing, shelter, education, and medical care".