Experts Call for Digital Health Investment to Build Climate-Resilient Healthcare System

Policymakers, researchers, and public health experts have called for greater investment in technology-driven healthcare systems, disease surveillance, data-based research, and climate-resilient infrastructure to address the growing health risks associated with climate change.

They stressed that digital health technologies, data analytics, early warning systems, and modern healthcare infrastructure are now essential to tackling climate-related diseases, maternal health challenges, safe water shortages, and increasing pressure on the healthcare system. However, climate-related allocations within Bangladesh’s health services budget have declined from 2.74 percent in FY2021–22 to 1.97 percent in FY2025–26.

The call was made during a high-level policy dialogue titled “Climate-Resilient Health Systems and Health Financing in Bangladesh”, jointly organized by the Center for Participatory Research and Development, HEKS/EPER, and Sushilan ahead of the announcement of the national budget for FY2026–27.

Held at the BRAC Centre Inn on June 6, the dialogue featured the presentation of recent research findings on climate and health.

Research Highlights Climate-Driven Health Challenges

Two studies conducted by CPRD were presented at the event:

• Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on the Reproductive Health of Women and Adolescent Girls in Coastal Areas
• Climate Financing in Bangladesh’s Health Sector: Policy Commitments and Financial Realities

The first study was presented by Sohanur Rahman and Md. Shahadat Hossain.

The findings revealed that poverty, shortages of safe drinking water, and climate-induced disasters are exposing women in coastal regions to serious reproductive and maternal health complications. Nearly half of the surveyed women reported irregular menstruation, severe pain, cessation of menstruation, and abnormal bleeding. The study also documented cases of miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, infections, postpartum hemorrhage, and chronic pain.

Furthermore, 82.5 percent of participants said limited access to safe water and essential hygiene products had worsened these health conditions. Researchers also found evidence of symptoms associated with Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and various gynecological infections among a significant number of respondents.

Climate Health Financing Remains Insufficient

The second study was presented by Sumaiya Binte Anwar.

She noted that although Bangladesh’s climate policies prioritize the health sector, this commitment has yet to be reflected in adequate financing. According to the study, the health sector’s share of the national climate budget has fallen from approximately 2.5 percent in FY2021–22 to 1.5 percent in FY2025–26.

The research further revealed that less than one percent of the total funding from the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund has been allocated to health-related projects. Of the 877 projects financed under BCCTF through 2024, only three were implemented by the Health Services Division.

The study also identified several structural weaknesses in climate-health financing. While the National Adaptation Plan recognizes health as a key adaptation priority and the Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP) estimates that nearly US$1.4 billion will be required over the next five years to establish climate-resilient healthcare systems, current financing remains largely project-based.

More than 60 percent of climate-health spending is concentrated in development projects, while critical areas such as disease surveillance, emergency preparedness, workforce capacity building, climate-health research, digital data systems, and long-term health system resilience receive insufficient attention.

Experts Emphasize Data, Digital Systems, and Policy Reform

The dialogue was moderated by CPRD Chief Executive Md. Shamsuddoha.

He remarked that climate financing remains an ambiguous field and that strong quantitative evidence is needed to attract greater global attention and funding. He also emphasized expanding climate-health discussions beyond safe drinking water to include access to quality water in all aspects of daily life.

Dr. Shah Abdul Sadi stressed the importance of establishing a robust “climate rationale” to secure international climate financing. He advocated for clearer definitions in climate budget tagging systems, stronger sectoral ownership, resource mobilization, and improved risk indicators. He also recommended introducing third-party verification involving civil society, academics, and experts in climate-health budgeting processes.

Prof. Dr. Md. Iqbal Kabir of the Climate Change and Health Promotion Unit (CCHPU) stated that only about 5 percent of global climate finance is directed toward the health sector, highlighting its continued neglect worldwide. He identified data shortages as a major obstacle to developing strong funding proposals and evidence-based policies.

Meanwhile, AKM Sohel Ahmed observed that climate change considerations have yet to be fully mainstreamed into development planning. He emphasized expanding research, data generation, and climate awareness beyond coastal regions to other vulnerable areas of the country. He also highlighted the need for a virtual platform to improve information sharing and coordination.

Key Budget Recommendations

At the conclusion of the dialogue, participants presented several recommendations for the FY2026–27 national budget, including:

• Stronger integration of Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP) priorities into the national budget.
• Improved climate budget tracking mechanisms.
• Increased recurring funding for disease surveillance and preparedness programs.
• Greater investment in digital health infrastructure and technology-driven adaptation measures.
• Enhanced access to domestic climate finance for health sector-led adaptation initiatives.

Participants emphasized that without sustained investment in digital health systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, and data-driven public health planning, Bangladesh will face increasing challenges in protecting vulnerable populations from the growing health impacts of climate change.

DBTech/SI/MI/OR