Capacity, Key Accomplishments and Situational Analysis for NCDs in South Asian Countries(cont...)

Bangladesh

Capacity, Key Accomplishments, and Situational Analysis

The Health Nutrition and Population Sector Program is Bangladesh's five-year plan for health. It adopted a sectorwide approach to improve coordination and ownership and has identified three NCDs—cancer, CVD, and diabetes—as major public health problems. The current Strategic Investment Plan is notable for including prevention and control of major NCDs.

The plan recommends that the public sector focuses on prevention and that investment in intensive care units and tertiary care services be left to the private sector. The plan proposes publicly financed insurance and health vouchers to protect the poor against the costs of emergency care and catastrophic illnesses. Efforts to include NCDs prevention and treatment have been lower priority in light of the current focus on MDGs.

The Strategic Plan for Surveillance and Prevention of Non-communicable Diseases in Bangladesh, 2007–2010, a comprehensive national NCD plan, has been adopted. Implementation has been stalled, though, by several issues including lack of clear lines of responsibility, absence of dedicated financing, and competing priorities.

Several NCD preventive health policies have been adopted. Bangladesh has ratified the FCTC, and the Smoking and Tobacco Product Usage (Control) Act 2005 restricts smoking in public places and advertising. A National Strategic Plan of Action for Tobacco Control, 2007–2010, has been developed, as has the National Cancer Control Strategy and Plan of Action 2009–2015.