Dhaka, May 21 -- National Doctors' Forum (NDF), a platform of doctors, on Thursday demanded a phased increase in government spending on the health sector to 5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the upcoming national budget Of FY2026-27.

The leaders of the organization pointed out that the current allocation for the country's health sector stands at a mere 0.7 percent of the GDP, which is highly inadequate compared to the

healthcare needs of the population. Consequently, healthcare disparities are widening, forcing citizens to bear the lion's share of medical expenses out of their own pockets.

The NDF raised these demands and recommendations during a roundtable discussion titled "National Health Budget 2026-27" held at the D...