DHAKA: Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim expressed his dissatisfaction regarding the budget allocation for the health sector in the upcoming fiscal year.

The health minister, also ruling Awami League lawmaker, came up with the discontent while talking to journalists at his secretariat office in the city on Wednesday.

He said that, “I have been able to convince finance minister to increase 10 percent in the proposed allocation.”

Nasim also expressed hoped that the allocation would be double in next year.

Health Secretary MN Niaz Uddin was also present at the press conference. 

He said the budget for health sector was Tk 9,000 crore in the previous year.

It has increased to Tk 11,000 crore this fiscal year and it is expected to be increased to Tk 19,000 crore next fiscal.

When asked about the total amount of allocation for health sector in this year’s proposed budget, the minister said he was not satisfied.

But the health secretary said with the help of the health minister, “We have been able to increase budget allocation and hope it will be increased more in the next year.”

BDST: 1450 HRS, JUN 04, 2014