The government of Bangladesh and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have launched an initiative involving €250 million to improve women’s health and strengthen the country’s healthcare system, with services expected to reach around 47 million women and adolescent girls between 2027 and 2031.
The programme, titled the Women’s Health Initiative, was unveiled at a meeting on “Women’s Health and Enhancing Healthcare Resilience” at the Bangladesh Embassy in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday, on the sidelines of the World Health Summit 2026, according to a press release.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain and Prime Minister’s Special Adviser on Health Dr Ziauddin Hyder led the Bangladesh delegation at the meeting.
The initiative will focus on maternal and newborn healthcare, cervical and breast cancer treatment, and emergency obstetric services. It will also strengthen primary healthcare, district hospitals, patient transfer and referral systems, and critical care services.
The programme will support preparedness for pandemics and other health emergencies, aiming to make the country’s healthcare system more resilient.
Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said protecting the health of women and adolescent girls was crucial to Bangladesh’s future. He added that the government was prioritising disease prevention to ensure quality healthcare for all, with support from the EIB and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Dr Ziauddin Hyder said the investment would help transform the healthcare system from a treatment-oriented model towards one focused on disease prevention and health promotion.
EIB Vice-President Marek Mora said investing in women’s health meant investing in stronger families, more resilient communities and sustainable economic development.
UNFPA and its WomenX Collective programme supported the initiative’s development and will provide technical assistance during implementation. UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita said the programme would help address the long-standing funding gap in women’s healthcare and bring lasting improvements for millions of women and adolescent girls.
As part of broader health-sector reforms, the government has pledged to gradually increase public health expenditure from 1 percent to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
The government also plans to recruit 100,000 community health workers, 80 percent of them women, alongside 25,000 professional midwives for government healthcare facilities.
UNFPA is mobilising at least €5 million in grant funding for technical assistance. Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and private-sector partners are also supporting the initiative.
The government is scheduled to present the programme at a panel discussion at the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin.
The EIB is the European Union’s financing arm, owned by its 27 member states, while UNFPA works to advance sexual and reproductive health and protect the rights and choices of women, girls and young people worldwide. UNFPA’s partnership with Bangladesh dates back to 1974.
