Distribution of Healthcare Providers

Healthcare Providers Distribution

Health workforce crisis at every level of the health system, but especially in PHC. This crisis is characterised in public health facilities by a large number of unfilled vacancies, widespread absenteeism (especially of doctors), inequitable skill mix and health worker distribution in rural and urban areas, a growing private sector in urban areas, and a significant absence of regulatory implementation.

The Bangladesh health workforce is not simply skewed towards doctors, figures from the MoHFW also show that there are considerable unfilled vacancies for public sector posts, as well as widespread absenteeism of doctors in public facilities. Various causes have been proposed, including a lack of financial and career incentives, poor working conditions, and non-functioning accountability and regulatory mechanisms resulting in no penalties for absentee staff.

5.2 What stands out?

Community health workers

There were twice as many community health workers (CHWs) from the NGO sector than the government sector

Health workers

60% of health workers are located in the
private sector.

Family Planning

In family planning services, most providers are women and almost all supervisors are men

Doctors : Nurses

Figures from 2012 indicate there are 23 doctors for every 1.5 nurses and every 1 paramedic. This suggests far too few nurses and paramedics.

Health system hierarchy

Policy-making, management, and training positions are mostly occupied by male employees.

Male : Female

The majority of doctors, dentists, technicians, and pharmacists are male, while the majority of nurses are female.