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BUDGET-HEALTH-SECTOR LEAD
Tk 32,731 crore proposed for health sector
DHAKA, June 3, 2021 (BSS) – Giving an utmost priority to the programmes and steps taken by the government to address the COVID-19 pandemic, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal today proposed an allocation of Taka 32,731 crore for health sector in fiscal year(FY) of 2021-2022 .
Mentioning the allocation of Taka 29,464 crore for health sector in FY 2019-20, he said, “We made a large allocation for the implementation of special activities under the Health Services Division to address the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, we set aside Tk. 10,000 crore to meet the expenses related to unanticipated emergency requirements.”
However, the finance minister said, despite a year has passed since its first outbreak, the COVID-19 pandemic is still ravaging the world. “Therefore, like the budget of the last year, we also make commitment this year that the government will take all necessary measures to address the impact of the pandemic. I would like to propose to allocate Tk. 10,000 crore in the next fiscal year to meet the emergency requirements to respond to the pandemic,” he added.
A number plans have been undertaken to develop the health sector to address the impact of COVID-19, Kamal said adding the implementation of some of these projects has begun in the current fiscal year and will continue in the next financial year.
While placing the budget in next fiscal year, he said different projects are being implemented with the funding of US$ 600 million from the World Bank, US$ 100 million from the Asian Development Bank and US$ 100 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Referring to different projects taken by the government with assistance of development partners, the finance minister said, “The ‘COVID-19 Emergency Response and Pandemic Preparedness’ project, supported by the World Bank and AIIB, is in progress. Purchase of vaccines, installation of oxygen lines, setting up of ICUs/CCUs and other activities are being taken up under the project.”
To enhance the country’s capacity to tackle the pandemic, improve the system of prevention, control and treatment of infectious diseases and strengthen the emergency preparedness capacity, the ‘COVID-19 Response Emergency Assistance’ project is being implemented with support from ADB, he added.
“Purchase of ICU beds, ventilators and PCR machines and expansion of modern microbiology laboratories in 19 institutions and activities are being taken up under the project”
Steps have been taken to enhance capacity of private medical college hospitals, including the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, to deal with the pandemic, Kamal said adding the process of urgently recruiting necessary manpower and hiring consultants on a contract basis is underway to ensure proper case management including expanding laboratory facilities and enhancing the skills of concerned health workers, doctors, nurses and technologists.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that the government will ensure free vaccination for all citizens of the country, he said adding “For this, the government will provide as much fund as is required to bear the expenses of procuring the required doses of vaccine. We will make adequate allocation for this purpose in the budget.”
The corona vaccine and logistic cold chain management is being managed through the existing EPI in the country and the cold chain system of the Directorate General of Health, the finance minister added.
To keep the regular vaccination program uninterrupted Senior Staff Nurses, Assistant Community Medical Officers have been assigned as Vaccinators, the finance minister said adding under the Directorate General of Drug Administration, a Committee has been formed on Vaccine Safety, Control and AEFI, which has prepared the Pharmacovigilance and Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFI) SOP/Protocol.
“Various committees have also been formed for the management of adverse events following immunization. In addition, Formulation of the COVID-19 vaccine guide and training on vaccinations have been completed.”
The finance minister said, “Plans have been devised to vaccinate 80 percent of the people in phases. In the first phase, people with risks will be vaccinated, and 25 lakh vaccines will be given each month. The vaccination program is being implemented at the field level through coordination between the EPI and the Communication Disease Control (CDC).”
The first dose of vaccination began on February 7 while that of the second dose began on 8 April, he said adding registration for vaccination and distribution of vaccine certificates and vaccine cards are being done digitally through the surokkha.gov.bd web portal using National ID cards.
Following the recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) of the WHO and the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) of Bangladesh and considering the reality of our country, people aged 40 or above are given priority in the COVID-19 vaccination program, who constitute 20 percent of total population, he added.
“The vaccination programme is conducted in 1,005 hospital-based vaccination centres across the country. Up to 31 May 2021, 58,22,157 persons received vaccines, of which 36,10,635 are male and 22,11,522 are female. Out of them 41,73,930 have completed their second doses.”
About COVID-19 vaccination strategy, management and steps, Kamal said the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan has been prepared under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) to protect the lives of people from the COVID-19.
” The government procured 3 crore doses Covishield vaccine of Oxford-AstraZeneca from the Serum Institute of India. In addition, 6.80 crore doses of coronavirus vaccine will be available from the Covax facility under the World Health Organisation for 20 percent of our population, that is, for 3.40 crore people.”
“Out of this 1.06 lakh doses have already been received. There are plans to buy vaccines from the Governments of China and Russia, Pfizer Co. from the USA and Sanofi/GSK from France/Belgium. Negotiations are at the final stage for procuring Sinopharm vaccine from China and Sputnik-V vaccine from Russia, and, if necessary, manufacturing the same in Bangladesh,” he also added.
The finance minister said meanwhile, 70 lakh doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca Covishield vaccine reached Bangladesh, and the Governments of India and China gave 32 lakh doses and 5 lakh doses respectively of coronavirus vaccine as gifts.
“The World Bank provided US$ 500 million for procuring COVID vaccines and US$ 14.87 million for logistics support. Loan Agreement for US$ 940 million with the ADB to procure COVID vaccine is at the final stage. Alongside, there is a good possibility to receive support for vaccine procurement from the European Investment Bank and AIIB.”
Elaborating different initiatives to tackle the deadly virus, he said, “We have been able to quikly adopt necessary measures to combat the second wave and have succeeded in controling the spiraling of infection and death rates by continuing with the measures taken during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and utilising our experience in the first wave.”
“All incoming passengers are being scanned at the points of entry, such as airports, land ports and sea ports. Till date, 22.22 lacs international passengers who arrived through the country’s 3 international airports, 2 seaports, 2 railway stations, and 23 land ports have been screened.”
Samples for detection of COVID infection are being tested in a total of 121 public laboratories, of which 72 are located in Dhaka and 49 outside Dhaka, Kamal said adding till date, 59.48 lakh people have been tested for COVID infections, including 58.19 lakh tested through RTPCR. Isolation beds, 5 in each upazilla, have been set up in all Upazilla Health Complexes.
“Around 10-12 isolation beds have been kept ready in District Sadar Hospitals where there is no Medical College. As a result, COVID infected patients from remote areas are getting proper treatment. Distribution of Tk. 850 crore allocated in the current fiscal year for payment of compensation to the doctors, nurses and other officials who have died on duty and payment as honorarium to the doctors, nurses and health workers”
During the critical period of the pandemic, the government has strengthened its efforts to ensure affordable health services for all citizens through the development of the health, nutrition and population sector, the finance minister said adding as a result, it would be easier to achieve the aim of the government in building a healthy, strong and active society.
“When the coronavirus infection was first detected in Bangldesh in March 2020, the National Preparedness and Response Plan was prepared to combat and control the virus. Later on, with some minor revisions, the Bangladesh Preparedness and Response Plan was finalised, and activities are currently being carried out in accordance with the Plan.”
During the second wave of the pandemic, medical treatment services have been continued in specialised isolation units in district and upazilla levels, 14 COVID-19 dedicated hospitals in the capital city, and 67 COVID-19 dedicated hospitals in the district hospitals which were established during the first wave of the pandemic last year, Kamal added.
“Alongside, 55 laboratories established in the last fiscal year and improved government healthcare institutions are providing COVID-19 services. Nine new COVID-dedicated hospitals have been established. As a result, a total of 89 COVID-dedicated hospitals are now in operation.”
Dhaka North City Corporation Specialised Hospital and Isolation Centre has been opened to provide quick treatment to patients who got infected during the second wave of the pandemic, the finance minister said adding this hospital has 200 ICU beds, 250 high dependency units (HDUs) beds, an emergency ward with 56 beds, and 395 isolated general beds.
During the second wave of the pandemic, under the direction of the Prime Minister, countrywide lockdown was enforced again during 5th April to 30th May 2021 against the backdrop of an abnormal increase in infection rates.
“During this time, public movement were strictly controlled to protect public health and public life, and ban on all modes of inter-district transport – rail, road, and air was also enforced. However, to keep economy moving by allowing people to earn their livelihoods, mills and factories were allowed to maintain production following strict health guidelines, and shopping malls, markets and offices were kept open for a certain period of the day.”
Due to these measures, it has been possible to keep the infection rate under control even during the second wave, Kamal said adding during the pandemic, we will continue adopting strategies to protect public health and the lives of the people. Alongside, we will lay utmost emphasis on implementing various activities in the health and family welfare sector in line with the medium and long term plans.
“You are aware that the whole world has been passing a critical time since the first half of 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the finance minister added.
At the moment, the second wave and even the third wave of the pandemic have made the protection of public life even more difficult and critical, he said adding Bangladesh is no exception. Although the infection rate of coronavirus, which started in early March of 2020, went down to some extent in the beginning of the current year, it started rising again with the second wave since the 2nd week of March 2021, which is continuing till date.”
“Considering the impact of the pandemic on public health and public life, we took preparatory measures during the first wave to address the COVID situation. Enforcement of countrywide general holidays for 66 days and adoption of proper measures, under the directives of the Prime Minister, to reduce the infection rate and provide treatment to the infected patients, it was possible to control the infection and death rates,” the finance minister added.
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