The need for BHEW

Inequalities in health refer to differences in health status, between different groups in the population. Inequity is inequality which is deemed unfair, unacceptable, or avoidable. Over the last two decades, Bangladesh has witnessed large declines in mortality and improvement in health of its population despite economic hardship and inadequate health services. However, it is not known whether such improvements have been equitable.

If the gain is experienced differently between groups then it is likely that socio-economic inequities in increased risk, and utilisation and accessability of health care services may also exist. This in turn may be due to inequitable resource allocation and expenditure on health care services, which also deserves scrutiny from an equity perspective. Existing poverty alleviation and other development programmes also need critical assessment in terms of their equity impact. Only through a continual scrutiny of the above issues can awareness be raised and inequity in health eliminated.