globally. They have both public and private healthcare services that have improved a lot recently. In big cities, private hospitals and clinics provide excellent care, attracting patients from Bangladesh and nearby countries. Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry is doing well, making a variety of affordable medicines for people at home and abroad. While healthcare access and facilities can be challenging, the sector is growing quickly, and it’s known for skilled professionals and reasonable prices on the global healthcare scene.

Over the past 20 years, Bangladesh has significantly improved its healthcare facilities. The count of private hospitals has grown four times, from 1,125 to 4,452. Clinics have tripled, going from 411 to 1,397. Dental clinics have impressively grown almost seven times, from 122 to 839. Moreover, diagnostic centers have expanded sixfold, from 1,778 to a remarkable 10,291.

expenditure (THE) in Bangladesh from all sources between 1997 and 2020 was estimated. In 2020, THE was Taka 777 billion, which accounted for 2.8% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) based on data spanning from 1997 to 2020. In that same year, the government’s health spending amounted to Taka 179.74 billion, which represented 23% of the total health expenditure, or 0.66% of the GDP.

The current estimate for Bangladesh’s healthcare market stands at USD 10 billion, with expectations of it growing to USD 14 billion by the year 2023. This growth indicates a significant expansion in the country’s healthcare sector in the near future.

1. Private sector is present in all service delivery levels and consists of traditional private pharmacies, private clinics, auxiliary services and private hospitals of all sizes
2. Annually, approximately 700,000 Bangladeshis travel to India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore seeking high-quality healthcare services, and they collectively spend about USD 19 billion for these services.
3. Out-of-pocket expenditure makes up 74% of total health expenditure in Bangladesh – among the highest in the world, which is spent largely on medication and outpatient care
4. Both public and private health facilities are mainly concentrated in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet, Mymensingh and Rangpur with limited availability in other areas. The total number of hospital beds, combining public and private, stands at 0.8 beds per 1,000 people in the country.
5. Overall insurance penetration is 0.6%, which is one of the lowest among Asian countries

• equipment and devices sector in Bangladesh currently hold a market size of USD 442 million. It is experiencing a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13%, and it is projected to expand to USD 820 million by the year 2025.
• Between fiscal years 2016 and 2019, Bangladesh’s medical sector saw remarkable annual growth of 14.6%, making it the fastest-growing sector globally during that period.
• In Bangladesh, over 4,000 different types of medical devices and equipment are utilized, and approximately 5–7% of them are produced locally within the country.
• Over the last five years, the import of medical equipment and devices in Bangladesh has seen a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.2%, indicating a substantial increase in the import of such healthcare products.

• Growing Purchasing Power:  will join middle-income class and another 30 million will reach emerging middle class
• Higher Life Expectancy: As life expectancy increases, the senior population is projected to increase to 42 million by 2050 from 13 million in 2019
• Changing Disease Profile: Disease pattern is rapidly shifting to non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease etc., which requires long term treatment and medications
• Increasing Acceptability of Telemedicine: Over 50 startups are involved in telemedicine, e-pharmacy and online doctor directory & appointment etc. The COVID-19 pandemic has also propelled the wider use of digital healthcare services.
• Health Insurance: Growth potential for health insurance industry as government plans to increase universal healthcare coverage by 2032