All Citizens to Receive E-Health Cards by 2028: Health Minister
Bangladesh plans to provide E-Health Cards to all citizens by 2028 as part of a nationwide digital healthcare initiative. The government will introduce Digital Health IDs, AI-powered e-prescriptions, and a national health database to improve healthcare accessibility and efficiency.
The government plans to bring every citizen under a nationwide digital healthcare system by issuing E-Health Cards by 2028, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain informed Parliament on Wednesday.
Responding to a written question from opposition lawmaker Nurunnesa Siddika, the minister said the initiative is part of the government's broader commitment to ensuring universal healthcare and transforming Bangladesh’s health sector through digital technologies.
He stated that under a technical assistance project, all citizens will be covered by the E-Health Card program by 2028. The initiative aligns with the government's electoral pledge to establish healthcare as a fundamental right for every citizen.
“The government's goal is to ensure universal health coverage and make quality healthcare accessible to all people across the country,” the minister said.
As part of the digital transformation strategy, the government will introduce a Digital Health ID system linked to individual E-Health Cards. The initiative will facilitate the creation of a comprehensive national digital health database, enabling more efficient, coordinated, and patient-centered healthcare services.
According to the minister, the database and E-Health Card system will help prevent duplication of medications, support clinical decision-making, reduce unnecessary healthcare expenditures, and improve overall patient care.
The government also plans to gradually increase healthcare spending to 5 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as part of its long-term strategy to strengthen the national health system.
Highlighting ongoing reforms, the minister said efforts are underway to enhance the capacity of district hospitals, upazila health complexes, and union-level healthcare facilities. The government is also expanding healthcare services in remote and hilly regions, establishing new hospitals, upgrading existing infrastructure, strengthening maternal and child healthcare, expanding medicine and vaccine distribution networks, and implementing nutrition programs nationwide.
Looking ahead, he announced plans to introduce an AI-powered national e-prescription and prescription audit system to improve treatment quality and medication management. Other planned initiatives include the formation of a National Accreditation Council for Healthcare, improvements in medical education standards, and the establishment of a National Ambulance Pool and Emergency Health Services Network.
The minister further revealed plans to establish modern secondary healthcare units in every district, recruit 100,000 healthcare workers to address workforce shortages, and expand public-private partnerships (PPP) for the treatment of life-threatening diseases.
He expressed optimism that the Digital Health ID and E-Health Card programs would become key pillars of Bangladesh’s healthcare digitalization efforts, making healthcare services more efficient, secure, and accessible for all citizens.
//DBTech/SME/MUA//
