“The implementation of newly formulated ‘National Health Policy’ will not be possible unless grater accountability and transparency of this sector ensured’, speakers said in a round table discussion on the Day of International Rural Women Day. In line with the global theme ‘Claim your Right to Health and Well-being!", the International Rural Women Day Observation Committee organized this seminar titled ‘National Health Policy 2009: Rural Women and their Right to Health’ in National Press Club in Dhaka. Mr Swapon Guha, Chairperson of the Observation Committee, moderated the seminar while Atikul Islam Chowdhury and Mustafa Kamal Akanda of EquityBd, made the key note presentation which highlighted the real scenario of health services in local level.

In a welcome speech, Sarmin Islam Daisy, member the Day Observation Committee said that rights and access of rural women to the basic health services is a critical concern for the country therefore the global theme of IRWD in 2009 "Claim your Right to Health and Well-being!’ is correspondingly important for the country. Rezaul Karim Chowdury of EquityBd said, since 2000 the National Day Observation Committee in Bangladesh has been observing the day to highlight invaluable contribution of the rural women to household food security, development and peace.

The key note speakers said that the country’s existing health services are not poor friendly. People are still out of basic health services although in every year county has been spending a lot in health infrastructure and human resource development. Large scale corruption and centralized management system are the root causes those made this sector ineffective. This is just negligence of the respective authority and this could be solved easily. In this backdrop, formulation of National Health Policy is a practical initiative of the this government although many of its strategies- like introduction of user fees- may further make this sector ‘unfriendly to the poor people’- the speaker express worries. Dr Rasid -e -Mahboob, a leader of health professional, said that the National Health Policy will serve the interest of private health business sector; people’s rights to basic health services has been reflected in this policy. Implementation of ‘user fee’ system in health services may even increase ‘death risk’ of the poor people living both in urban and rural areas.

Member of the Parliament, Mr Zunaed Ahmed said the State should not bypass its responsibilities and obligations as described in the Constitution. He assured that the pros and cons of the National Health Policy and recommendations of this seminar will be discussed in the National Parliament. Another Member of the Parliament Principal Md Shah Alam said, government should discuss this policy with the common mass before its formulation. He also pointed out ‘centralization of health administration’ as the major obstacle of reaching health services to the poor people. It’s an urgency to solve this problem through its proper decentralization to the local government authorities.

Among others Tajul Islam of FNB, Sarder Arif from Action Aid, Shamima Akter and Abul Hossion from Labour Union spoke in the seminar.

Health, Education and water Issue in Bangladesh