The 17th World Rural Health Conference hosted, in rural Bangladesh, at the Brahmanbaria Medical
College (BMC) by Primary Care and Rural Health Bangladesh, and joined internationally through a
virtual conference over four months, has considered how best to ensure that high quality health care
is delivered to the almost half the world’s population that live in rural and remote areas. The
conference was addressed by experts in rural health from all regions of the world.
The conference heard of the substantial progress of rural health in Bangladesh. We congratulate the
government of Bangladesh for tremendous improvement of rural health care by establishing
community clinics for every 6000 people throughout Bangladesh. We also note that this and other
measures have improved life expectancy and decreased maternal and infant mortality, and narrowed
the urban/rural gap. We acknowledge these achievements make Bangladesh an exemplar in LMIC and
demonstrate that country’s commitment to ensure health care of all people. (1)
But there is more to do to build on this in Bangladesh and Worldwide. During this conference we have
clarified the key practical elements that can provide short- and long-term change that will bring better services to rural people…Readmore