Health Reporters Forum (HRF) organised the roundtable on "Invest in health, build a safer future" at the Press Institute of Bangladesh (PIB) auditorium on the eve of World Health Day.

The speakers said the trend of investing more in infrastructure should be changed and private investment in health sector should be monitored. They said there should be indications in the national budget how private sector investment in health should be used.

Changing the mindset of health administration as well as professionals is mandatory to eliminate all sorts of disparity in health sector, they added.

Director General of Health Services Dr Shahjahan Biswas was present at the roundtable as chief guest while National Professor Nurul Islam and World Health Organisation (WHO) representative to Bangladesh Dr Duangvadee Sungkhobol were also present as special guests.

Prof Abul Barkat, general secretary of Bangladesh Economic Association, presented the keynote speech on "Impact of Globalisation on Health" while Farid Hossain, bureau chief of the Associated Press, conducted the discussion. Ivy Zaman, director administration of Fortune Hospital, presented a paper on "Invest in health, build a safer future".

Prof Barkat in his presentation emphasised the health risks posed by globalisation. Terming a number of diseases "the diseases of globalisation" he said increased worldwide travel and urbanisation, infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases are now posing a threat to developing countries.

He stressed the need for concerted effort of the developing countries to attain the benefits of globalisation.

Accepting the suggestions from the discussants, Shahjahan Biswas said, "Concerted effort is needed to eliminate disparities in investment in the health sector."

Dr Sungkhobol said the avian influenza has the potential to trigger a pandemic. At the same time the use of hazardous chemicals threatens human health and HIV infection, malaria, polio, tuberculosis and providing safe drinking water are the health challenges the South-East Asian region faces, Dr Sungkhobol said.

She said WHO has taken initiatives to minimise threats to international health security.

National Professor Nurul Islam underscored the need for rationalising drug use and maintaining adequate drug supply at reasonable prices to all health centres.

Dr Halida Hanum Akhter, director general of Family Planning Association of Bangladesh (FPAB), Dr AJ Faisal of Engender Health, Prof M Abul Faiz, principal of Dhaka Medical College, Dr Ishtiaque A Zaman of ICDDR, B, Dr Abdul Bais, vice-president, Bangladesh Private Medical and Diagnostic Owners Association, Alfa Arzu, convenor of HRF and Kabir Ahmed Khan, co-convenor of HRF, also spoke on the occasion.