Healthcare system must identify risks, diseases: Dr Zubaida

Renowned cardiologist and Ziaur Rahman Foundation (ZRF) Vice President Dr Zubaida Rahman on Sunday said the healthcare system must identify health risks and diseases before they become severe, stressing that healthcare is not a privilege but a basic human right.

“Our healthcare system cannot be built around treatment alone. We often say prevention is better than cure, and that remains true. The healthcare system must identify risks and diseases before they become severe,” she said.

Zubaida made the remarks while addressing a special international seminar titled “Health Innovation for All: Expanding Access to Affordable and Inclusive Care” as the chief guest on the second day of the three-day “Bangladesh Innovation Fair 2026” at Novo Theatre in the capital’s Agargaon.

The session focused on technology-driven ways of delivering modern healthcare at affordable costs to marginalised communities.

Zubaida said the sophistication of hospitals or the advancement of technology could not be used alone to judge the level of healthcare in a country.

She said many people reach specialist hospitals only after their conditions have become complicated, while patients often travel long distances because necessary services are unavailable closer to their homes. “Modern tertiary healthcare has also become extremely expensive. But this is not only for Bangladesh; many advanced countries are facing this worldwide,” she said.

The ZRF vice president said the goal should be to make healthcare accessible even in the remotest villages of Bangladesh.

“We want to make healthcare accessible to the remotest villages of our country. More than 90,000 villages in our country should receive accessible healthcare for every citizen of Bangladesh,” she said.
Zubaida called for strengthening dengue awareness programmes and encouraging measles vaccination so that no one misses it.

Describing cardiovascular diseases as one of the major causes of disability and death in Bangladesh, she said, “Simple lifestyle preventive measures combined with excellent treatment facilities can change this scenario.”�"UNB