Health is one of the critical sectors where we have made enormous progress after our independence. To document the success of the country’s health sector, Bangladesh Health Watch took the initiative to publish a book ‘Swadhinotar Ponchas Bochor: Bangladesher Shastho Khater Bikash’. The cover unveiling ceremony of the book was unveiled at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre on 2^nd April 2022.

The special guests of the launching ceremony were former health minister AFM Ruhul Haque, Dr Jahirul Islam, health adviser, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Maleka Banu, general secretary, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Matiur Rahman, editor, Prothom Alo.

The chief guest was prominent economist Rehman Sobhan. The ceremony was chaired by Rounaq Jahan, convener of the advisory group, Bangladesh Health Watch.

On that occasion, Ahmed Mustaque Raza Chowdhury, convenor of Bangladesh Health Watch, gave a welcome speech to the audience.

He mentioned, “This book is very important documentation, as it has some success saga of the five decades of our health sector. Out success, failure and lesson learned from the past penned in the book.”

Some underprivileged teenagers from “Rumi Smriti Library” performed in the occasion where it has been reflected the love for the nation.

After the performance, a short documentary about the book was screened before the audience.

On that occasion, Dr Jahirul Islam said, ‘We previously have a bumpy road. However, we have some amazing development in our health sector. Each of the book chapters deals with important information about the 50 years journey, but apart from the ‘success saga’, we have many issues to discuss and shed light on. The cost of treatment is so high that very few people can afford it. This is creating discrimination among the common people of our country’. 

The former health minister A F M Ruhul Haque said, “After independence we had nothing, but today we can see enormous development in the health sector. Although reportedly, there are corruption and mismanagement, the Bangladesh health sector developed anyway.

The ex-minister also said that our out of expenditure is very high. Not only that our doctors and medical technologists are very few, particularly in rural areas.

Rehman Sobhan said, ‘The NGOs played a vital role in bringing changes in the health sector. The Sustainable Development Goal 6, which is ‘clean water and sanitation for all has been ensured in many rural areas and the NGO people deserves an applaud.’

The chief guest also pointed out that the big challenge in the health sector is to increase the budget and quality of services in the health sector. He said, “This is very disappointing that we use only very few percent of the GDP, which is the lowest among all the South Asian Countries

Rounaq Jahan said, ‘We need to compare our healthcare system to southeast countries of Asia. If we look at Thailand, their healthcare system and health infrastructure are far better than Bangladesh’s. But back in 1960s their healthcare system was very disappointing.’

Ninety-nine authors from home and abroad contributed to this book. Most authors are public health experts, researchers, academics, journalists, and doctors.

These experts’ analyses will help the readers to understand the significant changes that have been taken place in the health sector over the five decades.

The event was live streamed on Bangladesh Health Watch's Facebook Page: Live Stream Link.

The event was covered by 17 renowned media outlets.

Print Media coverage of book launching