Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of the Prime Minister and vice president of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation, said the government is identifying and addressing existing deficiencies in Bangladesh’s health sector. Speaking on Tuesday at a workshop titled “The Path to Becoming a Health Entrepreneur in Bangladesh” in Gulshan, Dhaka, she stated that the government is committed to ensuring quality healthcare for every citizen and is focusing on greater youth engagement to achieve this goal.

Dr. Rahman highlighted the need to develop young health entrepreneurs capable of tackling current and emerging challenges in the health system. She emphasized training, mentorship, and collaboration among researchers, innovators, investors, and public institutions. Stressing the role of universities, she called for practical learning environments that foster innovation and interdisciplinary cooperation.

She noted that around 72 percent of healthcare expenses are borne out-of-pocket by citizens, making illness a major cause of poverty. Dr. Rahman reiterated that healthcare is a basic right, not a privilege, and said the government’s priority is to deliver services to every household amid rising non-communicable diseases, aging populations, and climate-related health risks.