Dhaka, May 7 -- Primary healthcare must be guaranteed by the state to reduce inequality in health services, the Prime Minister's Finance Advisor Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir.

He spoke at a seminar organised by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) at its Agargaon office in Dhaka on Thursday.

A research paper on out-of-pocket health expenses and financial barriers to accessing care was presented there.

"We have seen, and your (BIDS) research has also shown, that inequality can be reduced if health sector spending is increased. But the question is where that spending should be increased," Titumin, also the planning advisor, said.

"We believe primary healthcare must be ensured first. We also believe that secondary healthcare...