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healthcare workers will be recruited in phases, and 80 percent of them will be women.

The premier said his government plans to introduce e-health cards for every citizen and ensure rapid and quality treatment for chronic and multifactorial diseases through public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives.

The government will implement necessary reforms to improve service quality and keep treatment costs affordable, introduce and gradually expand health insurance, strengthen medical education and research, and enact fair laws for both service providers and recipients, he said.

“To achieve these goals, five percent of GDP will be allocated to the health sector in phases,” he added.

Tarique Rahman reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a healthy and safe world for future generations.

World Health Day 2026 will be observed today in Bangladesh as well as across the world with the theme “Together for Health, Stand with Science”, he noted.

He said human beings, animals, and the environment -- these three components are closely interconnected as the safety and well-being of one is dependent on others.

Therefore, protection of all forms of life is a demand of the time, he said, adding that this is the concept of “One Health”, which emphasises not only human well-being but also the health of surrounding living beings and the environment.

“Healthcare is not a privilege; it is a fundamental human right,” he said, urging all to fulfil their responsibilities with honesty, dedication, and sincerity to help build a healthy and strong nation.

The premier also extended sincere greetings and congratulations to everybody in the health sector and wished success to all programmes on World Health Day.