Proposed budget allocation for health lowest in FY 2015-16

In the last two budgets, allocation for health was the lowest in 24 years, according to the Health Minister Mohammed Nasim.

During the question answer session in Parliament on Wednesday, he said, budget allocation for health sector in the 2012-13 fiscal was 4.82 percent and in 2013-14 it was 4.60 percent of the total budget.

Over a period of 24 years (from FY 1990-91 to 2013-14) the average allocation for health was 6.53 percent.

Within this period, the total budget amounted to Tk 15.73 trillion and health sector secured Tk 916.47 billion.

On Jun 4, Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed budget of Tk 3 trillion for 2015-16 fiscal with only 4.3 percent allocation for health.

In 1996-97, health was given the highest allocation -- 8.66 percent of the total budget, said the minister.

Speaking on the issue of family planning division Nasim said that previously the family planning division had no offices of their own in any of the districts in Bangladesh.

However, during the tenure of the current government, initiatives had been taken to establish family planning divisional offices in 18 districts.