Will be better if health budget slightly higher: Health minister

Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said it would be better if the health budget was increased as per the scope of healthcare.

"Compared to last year, the health budget is higher. But, it would be better to increase a little more according to the scope of healthcare," said the minister while inaugurating the intensive care unit (ICU) at the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) on Sunday.

The minister inaugurated the 20-ICU beds at NITOR Hospital which did not have any ICU till now. 

Zahid Maleque said in the proposed budget, Tk38,052 crore was allocated for health, which is 5% of the total budget. 

"In the last financial year, 5.4% of the total budget, Tk36,863 crore was allocated to this sector. But according to the increased scope of health care, it was necessary to raise it a little more," he added.

The health minister said several medicines have been exempted from duty on raw materials so that people do not have to suffer in getting healthcare. Besides, to ensure people's good health, the price of tobacco products increased in the proposed budget.

Among others, the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr Abul Bashar Mohammad Khurshid Alam, NITOR Director Professor Dr Md Abdul Gani Mollah along with senior doctors, nurses, and officials of the hospital were present.