Measles vaccine lapses by past govts ‘unforgivable crime’: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has strongly criticized the previous two governments for failing to ensure timely measles vaccinations for children, calling it an “unforgivable crime” that led to preventable loss of life.

He made these remarks while speaking on Saturday at “Upazila Health and Family Planning Officers Conference 2026” held at Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

He noted that the current administration has taken emergency nationwide vaccination measures, which, by grace, have helped control the worsening situation. 

He expressed appreciation to doctors, health workers and all those involved in managing the crisis.

The Prime Minister also conveyed his heartfelt condolences to parents and families who lost their loved ones, emphasizing the need for accountability in all hospitals and healthcare centers to ensure proper public health services.

Highlighting structural challenges, he said that specialized healthcare services and advanced laboratories remain heavily concentrated in Dhaka. The government is now working to decentralize healthcare by strengthening district- and upazila-level hospitals, aiming to reduce disparities between urban and rural health services.

Reaffirming the government’s vision of building a “Healthy Bangladesh,” he stressed the principle of “prevention is better than cure.” 

He underscored the importance of early disease prevention and the crucial role of upazila health and family planning officers in implementing this policy.

He also pointed out that climate change and environmental challenges have increased both communicable and non-communicable diseases, including respiratory illnesses, stroke and heart disease. Regular screening for conditions like diabetes and hypertension at upazila level and promoting healthier lifestyles are now essential priorities.

Describing upazila health officers as the backbone of the country’s healthcare system, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for effective coordination between healthcare delivery and administrative management to achieve meaningful outcomes.

He further revealed that the government plans to gradually increase healthcare spending to 5 percent of GDP. Additionally, a nationwide e-health card system will soon be introduced to digitally store citizens’ medical records, enabling access to treatment anywhere in the country. A national health insurance scheme is also in the pipeline to prevent financial hardship due to medical expenses.

The Prime Minister assured that the government is committed to improving the housing, security, dignity and overall quality of life for doctors and healthcare workers.

In his concluding remarks, he called on all upazila health and family planning officers to lead the development of accountable, sustainable and people-centered healthcare systems in their respective areas, transforming local facilities into model health service centers.

SH