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'Reducing healthcare cost a challenge'

Staff Correspondent
Although Bangladesh has significant achievements in the health sector, the country still faces challenges to reduce the high cost of health services that deprives the poor of healthcare, said a study yesterday.
The study observed the gradual increase of health expenditure as a burden for patients of non-communicable diseases and recommended taking an appropriate strategy for financing of national healthcare, a core objective of universal health coverage.
Universal Health Coverage is a concept that ensures health security of mass people. Along with government and nongovernment organisations, the media can play a significant role in generating demand for universal health coverage by creating awareness among the people, the study said.
The study was prepared on the basis of a total of 516 health related news published in six national dailies throughout last year. The study also focused on some aspects of the reports including structure and quality.
The newspapers are Jugantor, Ittefaq, The Daily Star, Prothom Alo, Kaier Kontho and The Independent.
Associate Professor Pradip Kumar Panday, a teacher of Department of Mass Communication and Journalism of Rajshahi University, carried out and presented the study titled 'Health Reporting and Universal Health Coverage' at a seminar organised by
Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB).
With the assistance of Rockefeller Foundation, PIB organised the seminar under a project styled 'Making a March towards Universal Health Coverage in Bangladesh: Training up Journalists and Capacitating PIB' at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the capital.
According to the study, Bangla daily Ittefaq is in lead in context of news coverage with Prothom Alo, The Daily Star and Kaier Kontho in second position.
Speaking as chief guest in the seminar, State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Capt (retd) Mojibur Rahman Fakir said the government had significant successes in MDGs [millennium development goals, through fulfilling some major health indicators and the effort will be continued with the assistance of non-government organisations.
Humayun Kabir, senior secretary of Health and Family Welfare Ministry, said awareness should be made among mass people for them to raise their voice for a larger allocation in health budget.
Information Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon said the media has been continuing its endeavor to increase awareness and participation of the people in different ways by publishing health related news.
Dulal Chandra Biswas, director general of PIB, chaired the seminar while Jeanette Vega, managing director of Rockefeller Foundation, spoke among others.