New Delhi, Feb 10 (NationPress) Bangladesh's healthcare framework is increasingly capable of addressing a significant portion of local demands; however, persistent mismanagement and ineffective planning are resulting in the squandering of nearly 80% of the public expenditure in the sector, as revealed by AM Shamim, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association.

In a recent discussion with The Daily Star, he stated, "Our national health budget is approximately Bangladeshi Taka 42,000 crore. Yet, around 80% of that is being wasted. Unnecessary equipment is acquired, while essential ones often remain unused and idle."

The core issue lies not in the availability of resources but rather in their effective management. For example, at Labaid Cancer Hospital, two linear accelerator (LINAC) machines provide radiotherapy to between 160 and 220 patients daily.

In stark contrast, he pointed out, government-run cancer hospitals possess 8-12 LINAC machines but serve fewer patients. "This is not a technical dilemma; it is fundamentally a management issue," he emphasized.

Bureaucratic hurdles exacerbate the inefficiency. He noted a decline from about 17,500 licensed hospitals and diagnostic centers to merely 3,000 hospitals and 7,000 diagnostic centers.

"Establishing a hospital requires approvals from at least 18 different agencies, including fire services, the Department of Environment, narcotics control, boiler inspection, and generator compliance," he remarked.

The main concern is that licenses are only valid for one year. By the time one agency completes its inspection, the year has elapsed. This situation invites delays, bribery, and inefficiencies.

Recently, the government extended the license validity to two years. However, Shamim cautioned that the fundamental issues persist.

He asserted that the nation has reached a state of functional self-sufficiency in healthcare delivery, even as profound structural weaknesses continue to jeopardize efficiency, accountability, and public confidence.

The managing director of Labaid Group, one of the largest private healthcare providers in the country, noted that the significant decline in medical travel abroad serves as an indicator of the system's increasing capability. He claimed that medical visas to India, once common for Bangladeshi patients in need of treatment, have plummeted to just a tenth of previous levels in the last 18 months.

Despite the expansion of the healthcare sector in Bangladesh over the past two decades in terms of infrastructure and workforce—now with the private sector delivering nearly two-thirds of all health services—these advancements are hindered by waste, regulatory dysfunction, and weak governance.