Bangladesh, EIB to Invest €250 Million in Women’s Health and Healthcare Resilience

The government of Bangladesh and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have launched an initiative to invest €250 million in improving women's health and strengthening the country's healthcare system.

Under the initiative, titled the 'Women's Health Initiative', healthcare services are expected to reach around 47 million women and adolescent girls between 2027 and 2031, according to a press release issued late Saturday.

The initiative was unveiled at a meeting titled 'Women's Health and Enhancing Healthcare Resilience' at the Bangladesh Embassy in Berlin, Germany, on Saturday, on the sidelines of the World Health Summit (WHS) 2026.

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 programme aims to improve maternal and newborn healthcare, expand treatment for cervical and breast cancer, and strengthen emergency obstetric services. It will also focus on improving primary healthcare facilities, district hospitals, patient transportation and referral systems, and critical care services.

In addition, the initiative will enhance the country's preparedness to respond to pandemics and other public health emergencies.

Speaking at the meeting, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain stressed that safeguarding the health of women and adolescent girls is vital to Bangladesh's future.

He said the government was working to ensure quality healthcare for all, with a particular emphasis on disease prevention. Partnerships with the EIB and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), he added, would be instrumental in achieving this objective.

Prime Minister's Special Adviser on Health Dr Ziauddin Hyder said the investment would help transform the country's healthcare system from a treatment-focused approach to one that prioritises disease prevention and health promotion.

EIB Vice-President Marek Mora said investment in women's health would contribute to stronger families, more resilient communities and sustainable economic growth.

The UNFPA and its innovative programme, 'WomenX Collective', supported the development of the initiative and will provide technical assistance during its implementation.

UNFPA Executive Director Diene Keita highlighted the initiative's importance in addressing the longstanding funding gap in women's healthcare.

She said the programme would help deliver sustainable improvements in healthcare services for millions of women and adolescent girls.

According to the press release, the Bangladesh government has pledged to gradually increase public health expenditure from 1 per cent to 5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) as part of broader healthcare reforms.

The government also plans to recruit 100,000 community health workers, with women expected to account for 80 per cent of the workforce. Additionally, it aims to appoint 25,000 professional midwives to government healthcare facilities.

Meanwhile, the UNFPA is mobilising at least €25 million in grant funding to provide technical assistance for the initiative. Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and private-sector partners are also supporting the programme.

The Bangladesh government is scheduled to present the initiative during a panel discussion at the World Health Summit 2026 in Berlin on Sunday.

The EIB serves as the financing arm of the European Union and is owned by its 27 member states. It is also one of the world's largest multilateral development banks.

The UNFPA is the United Nations agency dedicated to sexual and reproductive health and rights, working to protect the rights and choices of women, girls and young people in more than 150 countries and territories. Its partnership with the government of Bangladesh dates back to 1974.