Wednesday | 15 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Wednesday | 15 January 2025 | Epaper
BREAKING: ● 5 new principles in constitution proposed; nationalism, socialism, secularism dropped      ● 4 reform commissions submit reports to Yunus       ● Destiny MD, 18 others jailed for 12 years      ● Case filed against former president Abdul Hamid      ● Controversial govt officials to be arrested: Home adviser       ● Zia Orphanage graft: Khaleda Zia relieved from 10-yr jail term      ● NBR's Matiur, wife arrested from Bashundhara      

Tackling antibiotic resistance to achieve universal health coverage in Bangladesh

Published : Friday, 3 January, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 1051
Asif All Mahmud Akash
Antibiotic resistance (ABR) is one of the most pressing threats to global health and development today. In particular, ABR poses a catastrophic impact on public health, as evidenced by the 7.7 million deaths globally each year. If left unchecked, ABR could cause 10 million deaths annually by 2050. Thus, ABR is considered a major obstacle to achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: "Good Health and Well-being."

While ABR is a global concern, its impact is particularly severe in low- and middle-income countries due to fragmented healthcare systems and weak drug regulation. Bangladesh is no exception. In addition to its fragmented healthcare system and weak enforcement of antibiotic drug regulations, limited healthcare coverage and substandard healthcare services have intensified the risks associated with ABR. Recent empirical studies and reports have highlighted the alarming rise of multi-drug-resistant bacteria across the country. Public health outcomes have suffered greatly as ABR leads to increased treatment costs, prolonged hospitalizations, and higher morbidity and mortality rates among patients with infectious diseases. One recent systematic study revealed widespread resistance to many antibiotics, particularly first-line antibiotics, in Bangladesh. This situation, where ABR undermines health systems and public health, signals an emerging crisis.

In this context, Bangladesh's goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 appears increasingly challenging, especially given the rise in multi-drug-resistant bacteria. UHC is founded on the principle that everyone should have access to quality healthcare services without suffering financial hardship. Antibiotics, which are considered the cornerstone of modern healthcare, are increasingly ineffective due to their irrational use, pushing humanity closer to a "pre-antibiotic era," as noted by contemporary studies. Consequently, healthcare services are becoming harder to access, more expensive, and less effective without functional antibiotics.

The recent International UHC Day 2024, celebrated on December 12 worldwide, emphasizes the importance of building resilient healthcare systems and ensuring that health coverage is accessible to all. The theme, "Health: It is on the Government," calls on governments to prioritize health investments to ensure equitable access and protect vulnerable populations from the financial burden of healthcare expenses. The link between combating ABR and advancing UHC has already been acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO), global leaders, and health practitioners. However, the degree to which this interconnection is addressed, particularly in the context of Bangladesh, remains a critical question. This is especially important since ABR is a "One Health" issue, requiring collective efforts from a range of stakeholders to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR).



The Bangladesh government has undertaken several policy interventions to mitigate the risks of ABR. In line with the WHO's Global Action Plan on AMR, Bangladesh adopted its own National Action Plan on AMR in 2017, providing a framework for tackling ABR. Additionally, the National Surveillance Strategy and National Drug Policy (2016) include provisions for the rational use of antibiotics and good pharmacy practices. However, the implementation of these policies has been inconsistent, as recent studies have pointed out. Effectively addressing ABR could be pivotal to achieving the goals of UHC in Bangladesh.

In addition to limited healthcare and diagnostic facilities, government spending on public health in Bangladesh remains insufficient. In contrast, out-of-pocket health expenditures by the population have risen dramatically, making Bangladesh one of the countries with the highest out-of-pocket healthcare spending in the world. This creates a heavy burden on its citizens, prompting many to self-medicate with antibiotics, often viewed as "cure-all" drugs. This issue is exacerbated by weak drug market regulations, a dense network of pharmacies, and aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies in Bangladesh. Furthermore, the limited reach of the drug regulatory authority is a concern, especially since approximately 68% of Bangladesh's population lives in rural areas.

It is evident, therefore, that managing drug-resistant bacteria and achieving UHC must go hand in hand. Despite existing bottlenecks in the healthcare system and weaknesses in drug regulation enforcement, Bangladesh has made significant progress in health. For instance, the country has seen reductions in child and maternal mortality rates and successful immunization campaigns. The collective action demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic is another commendable example. Moreover, while Bangladesh's health infrastructure is still developing, it is not entirely inadequate. The government must allocate more resources to overhaul the existing healthcare system and establish pro-people healthcare services.

The government must take decisive steps to strengthen healthcare systems and ensure the affordability of healthcare services, particularly for the timely treatment of drug-resistant infections. Government investment should also be directed towards improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) to reduce exposure to infections. Additionally, both state and non-state actors must be involved in an inclusive regulatory and governance framework to effectively combat ABR. These efforts will be crucial in accelerating progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Bangladesh.

The writer is a researcher and a former student of the Department of Public Administration, University of Rajshahi


LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Climate change causes California wildfire
Why can’t ragging be stopped?  
Accidents and serendipities in human interactions
Can an Anglosphere union be a potential superpower?
Address Rohingya crisis through intensified diplomatic efforts
The price of impunity in Gaza
Some remedies for digestive problems
Shortcomings of VAT and tax hike policies
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: district@dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝
close