DHAKA: The government has proposed an allocation of Tk41,027 crore for the public health sector for the fiscal year 2020-2021, which is 1.3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product and 7.2 percent of the total budget. 

Of the amount, Tk 29,247 crore has been allocated for the health services and health education in the proposed budget.
 
The allocation is only 4.7% of the total sectoral allocation of the budget, however, a 23% increase compared to the revised allocation for the current fiscal year.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal made the announcement while delivering the national budget at the parliament on Thursday afternoon.

The Medical Education and Family Welfare Division will get a total of Tk 6,363 crore for operating expenditure (Tk 3,917 crore) and development expenditure (Tk 2,446 crore).   

AHM Mustafa Kamal said this allocation has been proposed for the health and family welfare sector prioritizing activities in combating Covid-19.

He also mentioned that currently 13 ministries and divisions, other than the Health Ministry, were implementing programs related to health and family welfare.

The government has also proposed Tk10,000 crore as "lump sum" amount to deal with any emergency health crisis and meet the healthcare needs in the fight against the Covid19 pandemic.

BDST: 1800 HRS, Jun 11, 2020
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