A visit from a health worker at your door every two months. That is the goal of an early-stage government plan to strengthen primary healthcare across Bangladesh.
Under the proposal, the Directorate General of Family Planning would be restructured into a new Department of Primary Healthcare. The idea came out of a health ministry meeting on October 6.
The plan calls for hiring about 1 lakh new workers over three years. Together with existing staff, the country would have around 1.5 lakh "health and wellbeing workers". Each union would also get a 3.5-storey primary healthcare centre.
A seven-member committee has been asked to report within 20 working days.
For rural districts like Munshiganj, the plan could bring basic care closer to home. Regular household visits can catch problems early, support mothers and children, and help older people manage long-term illness without travelling to town.
The plan is still at the planning stage, and health experts say it will need careful design, training and funding to work well. Details on timing and budget are not yet public.
Munshiganj.com will report on what the committee recommends.
