Sightsavers launches policy briefs on universal health coverage

Sightsavers has launched two policy briefs on universal health coverage and inclusive eye health in a national seminar titled ‘Universal Health Coverage 2021: Leaving No One’s Health Behind’ on Tuesday.

Dr. AHM Enayet Hussain, Director General, Directorate General of Medical Education, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh, attended the seminar as the chief guest while Amrita Rejina Rozario, Country Director, Sightsavers Bangladesh Country Office presided over.

The policy briefs find out human resources for health (HRH) in Bangladesh are unevenly distributed, and the out-of-pocket costs borne by households are amongst the highest in the world in terms of proportion of total health expenditure due to insufficient domestic health investment.

The keynote paper was jointly presented by Rafiqul Islam, Project Manager-Eye Health and Syeda Asma Rashida, Project Manager of Sightsavers Bangladesh Country Office, said a press release.

Dr. AHM Enayet Hussain said, “The policies in the country to ensure UHC is sufficient. However, the challenge lies in the implementation of the policies. He further added that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare should take the lead in addressing the health issues of all citizens with a special focus on persons with disabilities.”

Amrita Rejina Rozario said, “In 2017, the United Nations (UN) proclaimed 12 December as International Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day by resolution 72/138. This year, the UHC Day is being celebrated across the world with the theme ‘Leave No One’s Health Behind’. Despite a low GDP, Bangladesh has experienced remarkably good health progress, and now is the time to focus on UHC.”