'Increase budgetary funds for health sector'

16 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

Members of Swasthya Andolon at a press conference yesterday urged the government to increase budgetary allocation in health sector. They also called for giving highest priority to free health services for the underprivileged and controlling commercialisation of the health sector. Swasthya Andolon, a platform of doctors and rights activists, held the press conference at the National Press Club. Farida Akhter, convener of the platform, said health sector clearly did not get much priority in this budget especially the rights of the underprivileged. The government has failed to consider the increase in population, inflation rate, price spiral of medical resources, which calls for increased allocation, Farida added. Farida also the executive director of UBINIG, said the health policy is completely missing from the discussion. Health sector of a country cannot run without a policy, she said.