Key Stakeholders Message- Mr. Rui Liu
Senior Health Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB): Across multiple meetings with the Bangladesh Urban Health Network (BUHN), Mr. Rui Liu, Senior Health Specialist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), consistently emphasized the vital role of governance, sustainable financing, and evidence-informed policymaking in strengthening urban primary healthcare in Bangladesh.
Rui Liu underscored that building a sustainable and equitable urban primary healthcare system in Bangladesh is not optional—it is essential for protecting the health of rapidly growing urban populations. He emphasized that strong governance, integrated urban planning, and evidence-informed policymaking must be backed by sustained development financing to ensure no urban resident is left behind, particularly those living in low-income and climate-vulnerable settings.
Highlighting ADB’s long-standing partnership with Bangladesh since 1998, Mr. Liu noted that five phases of ADB support have helped expand access to urban primary healthcare for more than 43 million people through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. These investments have delivered tangible results, including the establishment of nearly 200 primary healthcare centers in and around urban slums, strengthened city corporation capacity to manage services, and the generation of operational research that continues to inform policy and improve service delivery.
Referring to the ongoing ADB Primary Healthcare Project, scheduled to conclude in December 2025, Mr. Liu emphasized the strategic importance of the 194 primary healthcare centers being established across the country. He highlighted that allocating 50% of project financing to human resources reflects a clear recognition that infrastructure alone cannot deliver care without a skilled and supported workforce. He stressed that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s commitment to deploying qualified personnel is critical to translating these investments into real health gains for urban communities.
Looking ahead, Mr. Liu called for decisive action to mobilize domestic resources to sustain urban primary healthcare beyond project timelines. He emphasized that the next phase of ADB support, expected by 2027, must prioritize long-term financing, workforce stability, and climate-resilient urban health systems to secure lasting impact and advance universal health coverage in Bangladesh’s cities.
