If full capacity used, 70% people can be vaccinated by next fiscal

Criticising the proposed budget's goal of vaccinating 2.5 million people every month, experts have demanded that the vaccine be ensured for all as soon as possible.

They said it is possible to vaccinate up to 70% of the country's population in the coming 2021-22 fiscal year if the government can use its full capacity.

They came up with the observation at a webinar titled 'Budget 2021: Reviewing the Health Allocations' organised by Health Watch and Unnayan Shamannay on Monday.

The speakers said that it is possible to vaccinate up to seven lakh people every day through Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).

The government's plan to vaccinate 2.5 million people every month in this budget is not in line with capacity.

If this number of people is vaccinated every month, it will take 4/5 years for the whole population to be vaccinated. That will undermine the goal of vaccination. Experts fear that in addition to the pressure on the health system that could slow down the pace of economy.

Presenting the keynote at the webinar, former governor of Bangladesh Bank and Chair of Unnayan Shamannay Dr Atiur Rahman said, "The main goal should be to vaccinate 60%-70% of the population in the coming financial year making full use of the EPI, ensuring the supply of vaccines through smart diplomacy."

He also observed that it is possible to do that with the cooperation of international development partners.

"Budget makers have been cautious about allocating money this year, given the ability to spend. But they could have been a little more courageous and generous. At the moment, given the country's macroeconomic strength, we need to think about ensuring vaccines, not budget deficits or growth," said Atiur Rahman.

Highlighting the dependence on the private sector for healthcare, he said that the proposed tax exemptions for private sector healthcare entrepreneurs were timely.

Informing that in the last 10 years, about 76% of the health development allocation has been spent, he said, "We see that 24% of the development allocation remains unspent. A large part of the money is spent in the last quarter of the fiscal year. As a result, the question remains about its effectiveness. However, the health development budget is less in this year's proposed budget. Operating costs are about 52%. We have to prove our ability to get out of the norm."

He observed that there is no fat in this budget, so budget implementation is possible.

Commenting that banks need to consider whether it is possible to spend on health from CSR, he advised to strengthen round-the-clock telemedicine services in border districts from hospitals in Dhaka.

Bangladesh Health Watch Convener Dr Mushtaque Raza Chowdhury said that in recent times, the failure of the authorities concerned to spend even an insufficient allocation is a matter of greater concern than the allocation of health. Therefore, policy makers need to be more proactive in ensuring budget implementation.

Bangladesh Health Watch member and Country Director of Population Council Dr Ubaidur Rob said an estimated $1.5 billion would be needed to vaccinate the country's citizens. The Bangladesh government can borrow this amount from the reserve if it wants. It will not put much pressure on the macro-economy.

President of Bangladesh Health Reporter's Forum Toufiq Maruf said the emphasis should be on streamlining the healthcare system and increasing implementation efficiency to prevent wastage of allocated funds.

Speakers at the webinar said we also need to think about cross-border disease control policies from now on. Considering the rate at which corona infections are increasing in the border districts, the budget should have a separate allocation for it.