EIB will invest €250m in BD healthcare services

European Investment Bank (EIB) will invest €250 million to expand healthcare services to around 47 million women and adolescent girls from 2027 to 2031 to improve women’s health and strengthen the Bangladesh’s healthcare system.

‘Women’s Health Initiative’, was unveiled at a meeting titled ‘Women’s Health and Enhancing Healthcare Resilience’ held at the Bangladesh Embassy in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday on the occasion of the World Health Summit (WHS) 2026. Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain and Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on Health Dr Ziauddin Hyder led the Bangladesh delegation at the meeting.

According to the plan, the government will improve maternal and newborn healthcare, treatment for cervical and breast cancer, and emergency obstetric services. It will also strengthen primary healthcare, district hospitals, patient transfer and referral systems, and critical care services. 

It also plans to recruit 100,000 community health workers, 80 percent of whom will be women. In addition, a plan has been taken to recruit 25,000 professional midwives in government healthcare facilities. 

UNFPA is mobilising at least €25 million in grant funding to provide technical assistance for the programme. Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and private sector partners are also supporting the initiative.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the financing arm of the European Union, owned by the 27 Member States, and one of the largest multilateral development banks in the world.

UNFPA, on the other hand, is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, working to uphold the rights and choices of women, girls and young people across more than 150 countries and territories. Its partnership with the government of Bangladesh dates back to 1974.

The initiative will also support future preparedness to respond to pandemics and other health emergencies.

“The government is working to ensure quality healthcare for all by prioritising disease prevention. Partnership with the European Investment Bank and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will play an important role in achieving this goal,” Health Minister said.

The government has pledged to gradually increase public expenditure on health from 1 percent to 5 percent of GDP.