DHAKA, Nov 19, 2023 (BSS) - The government has recently taken a decision to include anti- hypertensive medicine in the drug list of Community Clinic as one in every four adults in Bangladesh is suffering from hypertension, according to a paper presented at the workshop.
 
National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute's Hypertension Control Program manager Dr Shamim Jubayer and Coordinator, research organization PROGGA's Hypertension Control and Trans Fat Elimination Project coordinator Sadia Galiba Prova jointly presented the key-note paper on hypertension control in a virtual workshop on Saturday.
 
Speedy implementation of this decision can play an important role in ensuring free anti-hypertensive medicine for the marginalized population along with controlling the growing prevalence of hypertension-related non-communicable diseases, the paper suggested.
 
At the same time, necessary budget must be allocated to ensure an uninterrupted supply of the medicine at Community Clinic and Upazila Health Complex, it said
 
It suggested ensuring availability of free hypertension medicines at community clinic level can be a cost-effective approach in this regard.
 
Providing hypertension medicine from the Community Clinic initially began in Sylhet district and the government recently took the initiative to expand it nationwide.
 
Currently patients are given one month's medicine from the non-communicable disease (NCD) corner of the Upazila Health Complexes.
 
It would be possible to save many lives and prevent heart attacks and strokes at a low cost if 2-3 months' medicine could be prescribed at a time along with ensuring the availability of hypertension medicines at Community Clinic.
 
PROGGA in association with Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) organized the workshop for journalists titled "Hypertension Control in Bangladesh" as 29 journalists from Sylhet division working in print, electronic and online media houses participated in it.
 
Muhammad Ruhul Quddus, Bangladesh Country Lead of GHAI and ABM Zubair, Executive Director of PROGGA were present.