Building on the success of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) were introduced in 2015. Comprising of 17 goals in total, the SDG also includes climate change, innovation and peace and justice.
According to the Lancet Global Health SDG health targets would rise from $134 billion to $371 billion by the year 2030. 75% of the health system investment would be on employing health workers, building and operating new clinic, laboratories and hospitals and buying new equipment’s.
SDG 3, with its 13 targets, focuses on good health and well-being. It hopes to ensure healthy lives for all ages by increasing life expectancy and addressing common problems such as child and maternal mortality. As one of the top performers of MDG’s, it is anticipated that Bangladesh will embrace the SDG’s with equal fervor.
According to Sightsavers (a British NGO), Bangladesh has had many successes in the health department. 56 SDG targets are being addressed directly in the governments 7th five-year plan. The NGO also how the success of achiving one SDG depends on the development of others. For instance, the impact of poverty (SDG 1), sanitation and clean water (SDG 6) and reduced inequality (SDG 10) are undeniable.
However, according to a recent CPD report, SDG 3 is one of the less integrated goals. This can be attributed to several factors such a low alignment with national plans, inadequate data availability, weak monitoring and accountability practice. Moreover, Bangladesh with its limited financial abilities has fallen behind on the accomplishment of this goal.
In hindsight, this can be identified as the direct effect of the governments budget decisions. The new budget, for the fiscal years of 2018 has a reduced budget on health, water and sanitation. Historically, government spending in these sectors have been pitiful. The current budget shows a nominal increment in the allocation of funds to the health sector but this might make little impact in improving it. The Health, Population and Nutrition Sector Development Program was introduced with the expectations of overhauling the entire health sector in Bangladesh. Unfortunately, the project hasn’t bought about much change for the health industry.
With a population of 163 million, a crumbling healthcare sector spells trouble for the economy of Bangladesh. Without a major revamping of this vital sector the citizens will continue to suffer.
