Urban Health Financing in Bangladesh, in the Context of Universal Health Coverage

Special Session at the International Conference on Urban Health

Wednesday, May 27, 2015
9.00-10.30 AM
Executive Lounge, BICC

This special session focuses on data and evidence on urban health financing in Bangladesh, with discussion on implications for future programming and planning. Newly conducted secondary analysis of the Bangladesh National Health Accounts (BNHA) reveals and quantifies, for the first time in Bangladesh, differences between urban and rural households’ out of pocket expenditures on health, as well as differences within urban households. What are the implications for health sector programming and universal health coverage in Bangladesh, particularly for improving equity, financial protection, quality, and efficiency? The session is sponsored by Abt Associates Inc. and organized with USAID’s Health Finance and Governance project in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh and the World Bank.

Moderator:
Mursaleena Islam, Ph.D, Resident Senior Economist, Abt Associates Inc. (HFG Project)

Presentation:
“Tracking urban health expenditures – evidence from secondary analysis of Bangladesh National Health Accounts”
Ashadul Islam, Director General, Health Economics Unit, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh

Discussion:
“Implications for equity and financial protection in urban health in Bangladesh”
M. M. Reza, CTA, PMMU, Planning Wing, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Bangladesh

Presentation:
“Involving Community for Health Care Financing”
Dr. Shamim Hayder Talukder, Emnence

Discussion:
“Implications for quality and efficiency in urban health in Bangladesh”
Dr. Bushra Binte Alam, Senior Health  Specialist, HNP Global Practice, World Bank