Browsing by Author "Standing, Hilary"

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Creating a public space and dialogue on sexuality and rights: a case study from Bangladesh
(© 2011 Rashid et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd., 2011) Rashid, Sabina Faiz; Standing, Hilary; Mohiuddin, Mahrukh; Ahmed, Farah M.
This article describes and analyses a research based engagement by a university school of public health in Bangladesh aimed at raising public debate on sexuality and rights and making issues such as discrimination more visible to policy makers and other key stakeholders in a challenging context. The impetus for this work came from participation in an international research programme with a particular interest in bridging international and local understandings of sexual and reproductive rights. The research team worked to create a platform to broaden discussions on sexuality and rights by building on a number of research activities on rural and urban men's and women's sexual health concerns, and on changing concepts of sexuality and understandings of sexual rights among specific population groups in Dhaka city, including sexual minorities. Linked to this on-going process of improving the evidence base, there has been a series of learning and capacity building activities over the last four years consisting of training workshops, meetings, conferences and dialogues. These brought together different configurations of stakeholders - members of sexual minorities, academics, service providers, advocacy organisations, media and policy makers. This process contributed to developing more effective advocacy strategies through challenging representations of sexuality and rights in the public domain. Gradually, these efforts brought visibility to hidden or stigmatised sexuality and rights issues through interim outcomes that have created important steps towards changing attitudes and policies. These included creating safe spaces for sexual minorities to meet and strategise, development of learning materials for university students and engagement with legal rights groups on sexual rights. Through this process, it was found to be possible to create a public space and dialogue on sexuality and rights in a conservative and challenging environment like Bangladesh by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to successfully challenge representations of sexuality in the public arena. A further challenge for BRAC University has been to assess its role as a teaching and research organisation, and find a balance between the two roles of research and activism in doing work on sexuality issues in a very sensitive political context.
Creating a public space and dialogue on sexuality and rights: a case study from Bangladesh
(© 2011 Rashid et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd., 2011) Rashid, Sabina Faiz; Standing, Hilary; Mohiuddin, Mahrukh; Ahmed, Farah M.
This article describes and analyses a research based engagement by a university school of public health in Bangladesh aimed at raising public debate on sexuality and rights and making issues such as discrimination more visible to policy makers and other key stakeholders in a challenging context. The impetus for this work came from participation in an international research programme with a particular interest in bridging international and local understandings of sexual and reproductive rights. The research team worked to create a platform to broaden discussions on sexuality and rights by building on a number of research activities on rural and urban men's and women's sexual health concerns, and on changing concepts of sexuality and understandings of sexual rights among specific population groups in Dhaka city, including sexual minorities. Linked to this on-going process of improving the evidence base, there has been a series of learning and capacity building activities over the last four years consisting of training workshops, meetings, conferences and dialogues. These brought together different configurations of stakeholders - members of sexual minorities, academics, service providers, advocacy organisations, media and policy makers. This process contributed to developing more effective advocacy strategies through challenging representations of sexuality and rights in the public domain. Gradually, these efforts brought visibility to hidden or stigmatised sexuality and rights issues through interim outcomes that have created important steps towards changing attitudes and policies. These included creating safe spaces for sexual minorities to meet and strategise, development of learning materials for university students and engagement with legal rights groups on sexual rights. Through this process, it was found to be possible to create a public space and dialogue on sexuality and rights in a conservative and challenging environment like Bangladesh by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to successfully challenge representations of sexuality in the public arena. A further challenge for BRAC University has been to assess its role as a teaching and research organisation, and find a balance between the two roles of research and activism in doing work on sexuality issues in a very sensitive political context.
Creating a public space and dialogue on sexuality and rights: a case study from Bangladesh
(© 2011 Rashid et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd., 2011) Rashid, Sabina Faiz; Standing, Hilary; Mohiuddin, Mahrukh; Ahmed, Farah M.
This article describes and analyses a research based engagement by a university school of public health in Bangladesh aimed at raising public debate on sexuality and rights and making issues such as discrimination more visible to policy makers and other key stakeholders in a challenging context. The impetus for this work came from participation in an international research programme with a particular interest in bridging international and local understandings of sexual and reproductive rights. The research team worked to create a platform to broaden discussions on sexuality and rights by building on a number of research activities on rural and urban men's and women's sexual health concerns, and on changing concepts of sexuality and understandings of sexual rights among specific population groups in Dhaka city, including sexual minorities. Linked to this on-going process of improving the evidence base, there has been a series of learning and capacity building activities over the last four years consisting of training workshops, meetings, conferences and dialogues. These brought together different configurations of stakeholders - members of sexual minorities, academics, service providers, advocacy organisations, media and policy makers. This process contributed to developing more effective advocacy strategies through challenging representations of sexuality and rights in the public domain. Gradually, these efforts brought visibility to hidden or stigmatised sexuality and rights issues through interim outcomes that have created important steps towards changing attitudes and policies. These included creating safe spaces for sexual minorities to meet and strategise, development of learning materials for university students and engagement with legal rights groups on sexual rights. Through this process, it was found to be possible to create a public space and dialogue on sexuality and rights in a conservative and challenging environment like Bangladesh by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to successfully challenge representations of sexuality in the public arena. A further challenge for BRAC University has been to assess its role as a teaching and research organisation, and find a balance between the two roles of research and activism in doing work on sexuality issues in a very sensitive political context.
Creating a public space and dialogue on sexuality and rights: a case study from Bangladesh
(© 2011 Rashid et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd., 2011) Rashid, Sabina Faiz; Standing, Hilary; Mohiuddin, Mahrukh; Ahmed, Farah M.
This article describes and analyses a research based engagement by a university school of public health in Bangladesh aimed at raising public debate on sexuality and rights and making issues such as discrimination more visible to policy makers and other key stakeholders in a challenging context. The impetus for this work came from participation in an international research programme with a particular interest in bridging international and local understandings of sexual and reproductive rights. The research team worked to create a platform to broaden discussions on sexuality and rights by building on a number of research activities on rural and urban men's and women's sexual health concerns, and on changing concepts of sexuality and understandings of sexual rights among specific population groups in Dhaka city, including sexual minorities. Linked to this on-going process of improving the evidence base, there has been a series of learning and capacity building activities over the last four years consisting of training workshops, meetings, conferences and dialogues. These brought together different configurations of stakeholders - members of sexual minorities, academics, service providers, advocacy organisations, media and policy makers. This process contributed to developing more effective advocacy strategies through challenging representations of sexuality and rights in the public domain. Gradually, these efforts brought visibility to hidden or stigmatised sexuality and rights issues through interim outcomes that have created important steps towards changing attitudes and policies. These included creating safe spaces for sexual minorities to meet and strategise, development of learning materials for university students and engagement with legal rights groups on sexual rights. Through this process, it was found to be possible to create a public space and dialogue on sexuality and rights in a conservative and challenging environment like Bangladesh by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to successfully challenge representations of sexuality in the public arena. A further challenge for BRAC University has been to assess its role as a teaching and research organisation, and find a balance between the two roles of research and activism in doing work on sexuality issues in a very sensitive political context.
Creating a public space and dialogue on sexuality and rights: a case study from Bangladesh
(© 2011 Rashid et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd., 2011) Rashid, Sabina Faiz; Standing, Hilary; Mohiuddin, Mahrukh; Ahmed, Farah M.
This article describes and analyses a research based engagement by a university school of public health in Bangladesh aimed at raising public debate on sexuality and rights and making issues such as discrimination more visible to policy makers and other key stakeholders in a challenging context. The impetus for this work came from participation in an international research programme with a particular interest in bridging international and local understandings of sexual and reproductive rights. The research team worked to create a platform to broaden discussions on sexuality and rights by building on a number of research activities on rural and urban men's and women's sexual health concerns, and on changing concepts of sexuality and understandings of sexual rights among specific population groups in Dhaka city, including sexual minorities. Linked to this on-going process of improving the evidence base, there has been a series of learning and capacity building activities over the last four years consisting of training workshops, meetings, conferences and dialogues. These brought together different configurations of stakeholders - members of sexual minorities, academics, service providers, advocacy organisations, media and policy makers. This process contributed to developing more effective advocacy strategies through challenging representations of sexuality and rights in the public domain. Gradually, these efforts brought visibility to hidden or stigmatised sexuality and rights issues through interim outcomes that have created important steps towards changing attitudes and policies. These included creating safe spaces for sexual minorities to meet and strategise, development of learning materials for university students and engagement with legal rights groups on sexual rights. Through this process, it was found to be possible to create a public space and dialogue on sexuality and rights in a conservative and challenging environment like Bangladesh by bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders to successfully challenge representations of sexuality in the public arena. A further challenge for BRAC University has been to assess its role as a teaching and research organisation, and find a balance between the two roles of research and activism in doing work on sexuality issues in a very sensitive political context.
Harnessing pluralism for better health in Bangladesh
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Evans, Timothy G; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
How do we explain the paradox that Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in health and human development, yet its achievements have taken place within a health system that is frequently characterised as weak, in terms of inadequate physical and human infrastructure and logistics, and low performing? We argue that the development of a highly pluralistic health system environment, defi ned by the participation of a multiplicity of diff erent stakeholders and agents and by ad hoc, diff used forms of management has contributed to these outcomes by creating conditions for rapid change. We use a combination of data from offi cial sources, research studies, case studies of specifi c innovations, and in-depth knowledge from our own long-term engagement with health sector issues in Bangladesh to lay out a conceptual framework for understanding pluralism and its outcomes. Although we argue that pluralism has had positive eff ects in terms of stimulating change and innovation, we also note its association with poor health systems governance and regulation, resulting in endemic problems such as overuse and misuse of drugs. Pluralism therefore requires active management that acknowledges and works with its polycentric nature. We identify four key areas where this management is needed: participatory governance, accountability and regulation, information systems, and capacity development. This approach challenges some mainstream frameworks for managing health systems, such as the building blocks approach of the WHO Health Systems Framework. However, as pluralism increasingly defi nes the nature and the challenge of 21st century health systems, the experience of Bangladesh is relevant to many countries across the world.
Harnessing pluralism for better health in Bangladesh
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Ahmed, Syed Masud; Evans, Timothy G; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
How do we explain the paradox that Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in health and human development, yet its achievements have taken place within a health system that is frequently characterised as weak, in terms of inadequate physical and human infrastructure and logistics, and low performing? We argue that the development of a highly pluralistic health system environment, defi ned by the participation of a multiplicity of diff erent stakeholders and agents and by ad hoc, diff used forms of management has contributed to these outcomes by creating conditions for rapid change. We use a combination of data from offi cial sources, research studies, case studies of specifi c innovations, and in-depth knowledge from our own long-term engagement with health sector issues in Bangladesh to lay out a conceptual framework for understanding pluralism and its outcomes. Although we argue that pluralism has had positive eff ects in terms of stimulating change and innovation, we also note its association with poor health systems governance and regulation, resulting in endemic problems such as overuse and misuse of drugs. Pluralism therefore requires active management that acknowledges and works with its polycentric nature. We identify four key areas where this management is needed: participatory governance, accountability and regulation, information systems, and capacity development. This approach challenges some mainstream frameworks for managing health systems, such as the building blocks approach of the WHO Health Systems Framework. However, as pluralism increasingly defi nes the nature and the challenge of 21st century health systems, the experience of Bangladesh is relevant to many countries across the world.
Informal markets in sexual and reproductive health services and commodities in rural and urban Bangladesh
(© 2012 Taylor and Francis, 2012) Standing, Hilary; Rashid, Sabina; Akram, Owasim
Informal markets in sexual and reproductive health services and commodities in rural and urban Bangladesh
(© 2012 Taylor and Francis, 2012) Standing, Hilary; Rashid, Sabina; Akram, Owasim
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
Innovation for universal health coverage in Bangladesh: a call to action
(© 2013 The Lancet, 2013) Adams, Alayne M.; Ahmed, Tanvir; El Arifeen, Shams E.; Evans, Timothy Grant; Huda, Tanvir M.; Reichenbach, Laura J.; Ahmed, Faruque S K; Ahmed, Shamim; Ahmed, Syéd Masud; Azad, Kishwar; Bhuiya, Abbas Uddin; Mahmood, Shehrin Shaila; Cash, Richard A.; Chen, Lincoln; Chowdhury, Mahbub Elahi Khan; Chowdhury, Ahmed Mushtaque Raza; Christou, Aliki; Halder, Shantana R.; Husain, Mushtuq Mushtaq; Islam, Mohammad Sirajul; Islam, Khaled Shamsul; Huq, Shireen; Hussain, Zakir; Mahmud, Simeen; Mallick, Fuad Hassan; May, Maria A.; Osman, Ferdous Arfina; Peters, David H.; Perry, Henry B.; Rabbani, Atonu; Rahman, Mijanur Aminur; Rahman, Mahmudur Ziaur; Rasheed, Sabrina; Rashid, Sabina F.; Al-Sabir, Ahmed; Standing, Hilary; Mahmud, Simeen
A post-Millennium Development Goals agenda for health in Bangladesh should be defined to encourage a second generation of health-system innovations under the clarion call of universal health coverage. This agenda should draw on the experience of the first generation of innovations that underlie the country's impressive health achievements and creatively address future health challenges. Central to the reform process will be the development of a multipronged strategic approach that: responds to existing demands in a way that assures affordable, equitable, high-quality health care from a pluralistic health system; anticipates health-care needs in a period of rapid health and social transition; and addresses underlying structural issues that otherwise might hamper progress. A pragmatic reform agenda for achieving universal health coverage in Bangladesh should include development of a long-term national human resources policy and action plan, establishment of a national insurance system, building of an interoperable electronic health information system, investment to strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and creation of a supraministerial council on health. Greater political, financial, and technical investment to implement this reform agenda offers the prospect of a stronger, more resilient, sustainable, and equitable health system.
The sexual and reproductive health care market in Bangladesh: where do poor women go?
(© 2011 Reproductive Health Matters., 2011) Rashid, Sabina Faiz; Akram, Owasim; Standing, Hilary
In Bangladesh, the formal public health system provides few services for common sexual and reproductive health problems such as white discharge, fistula, prolapse, menstrual problems, reproductive and urinary tract infections, and sexual problems. Recent research has found that poor women and men resort to informal providers for these problems instead. This paper draws on interviews with 303 providers and 312 women from two rural and one urban area of Bangladesh from July 2008 to January 2009. Both informal and formal markets played an important role in treating these problems, including for the poor, but the treatments were often unlikely to resolve the problems. Providers ranged from village doctors without formal training to qualified private practitioners. The health system is heavily marketised and boundaries between "public" and "private" are blurred. There exists a huge, neglected domain of sexual and reproductive health needs which are a source of silent suffering and for which there are no trained health staff providing treatment in government facilities. The complexity of this situation calls for engaged debate in Bangladesh on how to improve the quality of existing services, discourage or prevent obviously harmful practices, and develop financing mechanisms to enable women to access effective treatment, regardless of the source, for these neglected problems.
The sexual and reproductive health care market in Bangladesh: where do poor women go?
(© 2011 Reproductive Health Matters., 2011) Rashid, Sabina Faiz; Akram, Owasim; Standing, Hilary
In Bangladesh, the formal public health system provides few services for common sexual and reproductive health problems such as white discharge, fistula, prolapse, menstrual problems, reproductive and urinary tract infections, and sexual problems. Recent research has found that poor women and men resort to informal providers for these problems instead. This paper draws on interviews with 303 providers and 312 women from two rural and one urban area of Bangladesh from July 2008 to January 2009. Both informal and formal markets played an important role in treating these problems, including for the poor, but the treatments were often unlikely to resolve the problems. Providers ranged from village doctors without formal training to qualified private practitioners. The health system is heavily marketised and boundaries between "public" and "private" are blurred. There exists a huge, neglected domain of sexual and reproductive health needs which are a source of silent suffering and for which there are no trained health staff providing treatment in government facilities. The complexity of this situation calls for engaged debate in Bangladesh on how to improve the quality of existing services, discourage or prevent obviously harmful practices, and develop financing mechanisms to enable women to access effective treatment, regardless of the source, for these neglected problems.