Government of Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote public-private partnerships (PPP) projects in the country's healthcare sector jointly at Secretariat Building, Dhaka on 10th December 2019.

The tri-partite MOU was signed at a ceremony in Health Service Division, Dhaka by Director General of Directorate General Health Services Professor Abul Kalam Azad; Director-General Bangladesh PPP Authority (PPPA) Mr. Md. Abul Bashar; and ADB's Country Director for Bangladesh Mr. Manmohan Parkash. Secretary of the Health Services Division of the Ministry OF Health and Family Welfare Mr. Md. Ashadul Islam and Chief Executive Officer (Secretary) of PPPA Mr. Muhammad Alkama Siddiqui witnessed the signing ceremony.

Bangladesh had remarkable success in recent years in improving public health and achieving health coverage. Supported by sustained policy priority, the progress has been characterized by high immunization reduced infant and maternal mortality, and lower fertility rates. However, a second generation of innovations and increased investment in the sector is required to maintain the successful track record and face the remaining challenge, At the core of the challenges, is non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart attacks, chronic respiratory diseases, kidney diseases and diabetes. PPPs can provide affordable and quality services to prevent and manage NCDs, and being alternative to public sector spending to build and operate hospitals and health education facilities.

"Health sector of Bangladesh has immense potential to bring in private sector participation through PPPs. Private participation within the service delivery framework of the government can open the doors to greater private sector efficiencies and technology to complement the public sector effort," said the Secretary, HSD. CEO, PPP Authority said that " PPPs can introduce positive qualitative changes to health systems and the tri-partite MOU may create the right framework to explore PPP possibilities and implement projects in the health sector."

Under the MOU, Office of PPP (OPPP), ADB will work with DGHS and PPPA to identify, prepare, and implement projects under PPP arrangements including priority areas such as diagnostics and dialysis services. ADB will provide holistic support through the Asia Pacific Project Preparation Facility (AP3F) which can provide integrated support for capacity building, development of standardized templates for procurement and contracting, creation of a potential healthcare project's pipeline and transaction advisory services.

Health Service Division is hopeful that the partnership of DGHS with ADB and PPP Authority will create a momentum in the health ecosystem which will bring in new investment, efficiency and innovation from the private sector for ensuring universal health coverage and to achieve the targets of the SDGs.