Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus emphasised on Wednesday that healthcare should not be governed by profit-driven motives.
“Healthcare can easily turn into a money-making enterprise, with profit maximisation at its core. This focus on profit often derails the true purpose of healthcare,” he stated.
The chief adviser made the comments during the “UNGA High-Level Working Session: Transforming Primary Healthcare – Bangladesh’s Blueprint” in the USA, according to BSS.
He pointed out that there is a significant opportunity for profit in the healthcare industry.
“We raised a very fundamental issue – medicine and healthcare should not be left to those driven solely by profit. I am not implying that money-driven individuals are inherently bad, but the system should not be left in their hands,” Yunus said.
Discussing the challenges faced during the Covid-19 vaccine distribution, the chief adviser criticised the unequal distribution of vaccines, stating that 10 countries consumed nearly 80 percent of the global vaccine production.
He also advocated for the role of social business in the healthcare sector as a means to address global social issues.
The event also saw the participation of Law Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, NCP leader Dr Tasnim Jara, and BRAC executive director Dr Asif Saleh.
