Health Commission Recommends Its Own Closure

Staff Correspondent

The current Health Reform Commission believes there is no need for a central health commission. They have suggested that establishing 11 regional health service authorities by division would be the most effective approach to improving the health sector.

In a 44-page report submitted to Chief Advisor Dr. Yunus today, May 5, Monday, the commission stated that decentralization is necessary for managing healthcare systems. This would enable planning and implementation based on local realities. These authorities would oversee budgeting, quality control, service delivery, monitoring, and accountability.

The 12-member commission, formed on December 3, 2024, mentioned that the current centralized commission model is not suitable for the future. Having worked within a central structure themselves, they found it challenging to make effective decisions while understanding local realities.

The report proposed amending the constitution to recognize primary healthcare as a fundamental right. It also recommended allocating at least 15% of the government’s total budget to the health sector.

The commission further suggested making it mandatory for a physician to see no more than 50 patients a day and spend at least 10 minutes with each patient. However, the country still faces a shortage of doctors and healthcare workers, with only 0.67 doctors and 0.56 nurses and midwives per 1,000 people.

The commission’s term ended on April 30. It emphasized that its role was to outline a framework, and implementation should be entrusted to decentralized authorities.