Dhaka, June 16 -- A mother in a rural village should not have to travel hundreds of kilometres to Dhaka for a service that ought to be available at her local health facility. Yet this remains the reality for many Bangladeshis. While the country has earned global recognition for reducing maternal and child mortality and expanding immunisation coverage, millions still struggle to access basic healthcare close to home. The problem is not a lack of success stories. It is a lack of investment where it matters most: primary health care.

Bangladesh's public health achievements over the past three decades are remarkable. Life expectancy has increased, maternal and child mortality have fallen substantially, and immunisation coverage has become a ...