Staff Reporter: According to the Health and Morbidity Status Survey 2025 by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), hypertension ranks first among the top 10 diseases in Bangladesh. Due to a lack of sustainable financing, the government’s decision to provide free anti-hypertensive medicines for all has not yet been fully implemented, contributing to the growing prevalence of hypertension. In this context, experts have called for controlling hypertension through allocating the necessary funding to this sector in the upcoming 2026-27 fiscal year budget. Marking World Hypertension Day, a discussion meeting titled “Prioritizing Hypertension Control: Bangladesh Perspective” was organized today (13 May) at the BMA Bhaban in the capital by research and advocacy organization PROGGA (Knowledge for Progress), with the support of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI). World Hypertension Day is observed every year on 17 May. This year, the day will be observed under the theme “Controlling Hypertension Together.”

It was informed at the discussion meeting that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) currently account for 71 percent of all deaths in Bangladesh, with hypertension being one of the leading contributing factors. According to the World Health Organization’s 2025 report, 283,800 people in Bangladesh died from cardiovascular diseases in 2024, and 52 percent of those deaths were attributable to hypertension. Globally, more than 10 million people die every year due to hypertension, exceeding the total number of deaths caused by all infectious diseases combined.

The discussion further noted that although the government has initiated the provision of free anti-hypertensive medicines at the grassroots level, inadequate budget allocation has been hindering the uninterrupted supply of these drugs across all Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes in the country.

Dr. Md. Enamul Haque, Director General (Additional Secretary), Health Economics Unit, said, “Alongside increasing budget allocation for hypertension control, it is equally important to ensure the effective implementation of the allocated budget.”

Md. Khorshed Alam, NDC, Managing Director (Additional Secretary), Community Clinic Health Support Trust, stated, “The government is continuing its efforts to ensure uninterrupted supply of antihypertensive medicines at Community Clinics and Upazila Health Complexes. This initiative will play a positive role in controlling hypertension.”

Dr. Lelin Choudhury, Public health expert remarked, “Ensuring free medicine supply for all at the grassroots level will reduce hypertension and hypertension-related diseases and deaths.”

Dr. Malay Kanti Mridha, Professor, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health said, “Hypertension can be effectively controlled through research-based treatment and preventive measures.”

Zahirul Alam, Executive Director, Channel 24, said, “The media can play an important role in raising public awareness about hypertension and encouraging policymakers to take effective measures.” says press release,

Professor Dr. Shafiun Nahin Shimul, Director, Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, stated, “Sustainable financing for hypertension control should be considered an effective investment.”

Dr. Geeta Rani Devi, Medical Officer, Directorate General of Health Services; Shamsun Naher Nahid, Chief Nutritionist, BIRDEM General Hospital; and ABM Zubair, Executive Director, PROGGA also spoke at the event, moderated by Mir Masrur Zaman Rony, Chief News Editor, Channel i. The key-note presentation was delivered by Samiha Bintay Kamal, Program Officer, PROGGA. The session was chaired by Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead, GHAI.