Staff Reporter : Bangladesh is witnessing a significant surge in hypertension cases with one in every four people currently suffering from the condition. Even after diagnosis, most patients fail to keep the disease under control. While the provision of free anti-hypertensive medicines has begun at Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes, supply shortages remain due to lack of sustainable funding and other challenges. To address this crisis, it is essential to ensure the availability of anti-hypertensive medicines at all healthcare facilities at the grassroots level.
These information and recommendations were highlighted at a virtual workshop for journalists titled “Hypertension Control in Bangladesh: Progress, Challenges and Way Forward”, on 17th September 2025. The workshop was organized by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress) with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). Thirty journalists from Rangpur division working in print, electronic, and online media houses participated in the workshop.
It was informed at the workshop that 35 ministries and divisions of the government have recently signed a Joint Declaration on NCDs to strengthen inter-ministerial cooperation. The initiative aims to adopt and implement a coordinated approach to prevent and control NCDs. In addition, a report by the Health Sector Reform Commission has recommended the provision of essential medicines free of cost at the primary healthcare level.
Hypertension ranks among the top three causes of deaths and disability in Bangladesh. To effectively reduce hypertension related NCDs, speakers emphasized ensuring the availability of anti-hypertensive medicines in all Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes, along with increasing the budgetary allocation for this sector.
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA attended the virtual workshop as discussants. PROGGA’s Director Md. Shahedul Alam and Coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova delivered presentations on hypertension control.