Health / Health system development

Although ADB's interventions have strengthened the government's capacity to provide PHC services, the scope and coverage of support need to be expanded and the service delivery model needs to be reformed, as the country is currently facing more diversified health needs. Key challenges being faced by the country include rapid growth of urban population, the double burden of communicable and NCDs, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government is looking for innovative approaches with the support of developing partners, including ADB, to improve the access and quality to comprehensive PHC services, including immunization, strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of the health system to achieve Universal Health Coverage, and mitigating COVID-19-related adverse impacts through vaccine manufacturing, upgrading the national drug authorities for a robust regulatory ecosystem, genomic surveillance and mobile testing capacity, research on vaccine hesitancy and health sector needs, etc. Additionally, there is also the need to focus on the use of information technology tools for efficient health service delivery, PPPs, telemedicine, movement towards electronic health records, World Health Organization compliant vaccine certification, etc.

For these reasons, the transaction technical assistance (TA) facility will provide project preparation and implementation support to the ensuing Support for Health Care Improvement Project and the ongoing Responsive COVID-19 Vaccines for Recovery Project under the Asia Pacific Vaccines Access Facility project implementation (including support for manufacturing and regulatory upgradation for vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics), additional financing in Bangladesh to ensure quality project preparation and due diligence, and improve the government's readiness for the project implementation. As ADB expands its health sector portfolio in Bangladesh, the proposed transaction TA facility will enable ADB to deepen the policy dialogue and provide technical support to address health sector challenges through locally appropriate and innovative approaches. Both the ensuing and the ongoing projects are in the health sector and require a similar set of technical, safeguard, financial management, procurement, and capacity building supports. The proposed transaction TA facility is listed in Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s country operations business plan for Bangladesh, 2022-2023.