Bangladesh’s healthcare journey tells a story of both triumph and tragedy. Over the years, we’ve seen major improvements: higher immunisation rates, reduced maternal and child mortality, better access to specialist treatment, and a rise in modern diagnostic facilities. On the surface, it feels like progress we should celebrate. But behind this progress lies a growing concern — the rising cost of healthcare, which is slowly turning health into a luxury rather than a basic right.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, an alarming 72.5% of all healthcare costs are borne directly by households. This means when a child needs treatment, many parents must decide between medicine and school expenses. When a senior family member requires regular medicines, someone else sacrifices essentials like nutritious food or transportation. Healthcare isn’t just a medical challenge — it has become a financial one.

Environmental pollution, lifestyle-related health conditions, and recurring outbreaks like dengue and chikungunya are no longer seasonal issues — they are everyday realities. Non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney failure already account for nearly 70% of deaths nationwide. Yet most people avoid early checkups not because they don’t care, but because they fear the cost. By the time help is finally sought, treatment is often complex, expensive, and sometimes too late.

At the same time, healthcare inflation continues to rise sharply — particularly in rural regions where recent reports show an increase of over 17%. Urban costs are also rising, from consultation fees to diagnostics and hospital stays. For a family already juggling food prices, school fees, house rent, and transportation costs, medical bills can instantly become overwhelming. No surprise that research indicates over five million people in Bangladesh fall below the poverty line every year due to medical expenses alone.

Culturally, we tend to visit doctors only in moments of crisis. Preventive health checks, which could save lives and reduce costs in the long run, are treated as luxuries. But delaying routine health checks often transforms small, manageable conditions into expensive, long-term treatment plans. A simple screening test that could cost a fraction today may turn into chemotherapy, dialysis, or ICU bills tomorrow.

In a system where treating illness is expensive and preventing it is ignored, families continue to carry the emotional and financial burden alone. And while medical advancements are growing, access remains uneven — especially for low- and middle-income households who need protection the most.

A portion of the population is now managing medical costs better because of group insurance provided by companies and institutions. Some even include mandatory health checkups, reducing long-term health risks. Personal insurance is gaining interest too — especially among younger, more informed individuals.

A few insurers are emerging as reliable options with strong financial backing, high claim settlement rates, and digital convenience. Guardian Life Insurance is one example gaining public trust, offering smooth claim processes, digital services, and customer-centric policies.

Yet despite these promising developments, Bangladesh’s insurance penetration remains at only 0.5% of GDP, one of the lowest in Asia. Most people are still financially unprotected against unexpected medical emergencies.

Bangladesh has proven before that it can overcome impossible odds, from food security to garments exports. The same ambition is needed now in healthcare. We must stop treating medical expenses as a private misfortune and start addressing them as a collective challenge. Because in the end, good health should not be a matter of wealth.