Bangladesh Center for Health Studies (BCHS)
Evidence, Policy, Protection

Bangladesh Center for Health Studies (BCHS) is an independent health policy think tank dedicated to evidence generation, policy development, and strategy formulation in the health sector. Established in 2020, BCHS serves as a platform for research, advocacy, and policy dialogue to strengthen health systems and improve public health outcomes in Bangladesh. The organization focuses on generating high-quality evidence to inform health policies, programs, and decision-making processes. Headquartered in Dhaka, BCHS collaborates with government agencies, academic institutions, development partners, and civil society organizations to address critical health challenges. Its key areas of work include health systems strengthening, universal health coverage, non-communicable diseases, infectious disease control, and health equity. By fostering multi-stakeholder engagement, BCHS aims to bridge the gap between research and policy, ensuring that health strategies are evidence-based and effectively implemented. With a commitment to transparency, innovation, and inclusivity, BCHS strives to contribute to sustainable health development in Bangladesh. Through its research, policy analysis, and capacity-building initiatives, the organization supports the country’s progress toward achieving national and global health goals, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). BCHS continues to play a vital role in shaping a resilient and equitable health system for all citizens.

 

Vision

To be Bangladesh’s leading independent health policy think tank, advancing evidence-informed policies and innovative solutions for a resilient, equitable, and sustainable health system that ensures better health and well-being for all.

Mission

  • Generate high-quality, policy-relevant research and evidence to strengthen health systems and improve population health.
  • Inform and influence health policy through rigorous analysis, strategic recommendations, and evidence-based advocacy.
  • Foster collaboration among government, academia, development partners, civil society, and the private sector to address national health priorities.
  • Build institutional and professional capacity in health policy, governance, and research.
  • Promote equitable, inclusive, and sustainable health policies that contribute to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Core Values

  1. Evidence-Based Excellence – We uphold scientific rigor and use credible evidence to guide research, policy, and decision-making.
  2. Integrity and Transparency – We maintain the highest standards of ethics, accountability, and openness in all our work.
  3. Independence – We provide objective, impartial, and non-partisan research and policy recommendations.
  4. Innovation – We embrace creative thinking, emerging technologies, and innovative approaches to address complex health challenges.
  5. Collaboration – We foster partnerships and multidisciplinary engagement to maximize collective impact.
  6. Equity and Inclusion – We promote fairness, social justice, and equal access to quality healthcare for all populations, particularly vulnerable and marginalized groups.
  7. Policy Impact – We are committed to translating research into actionable policies that improve health outcomes and strengthen governance.
  8. Capacity Development – We invest in developing the knowledge, skills, and leadership of researchers, policymakers, and health professionals.
  9. Sustainability – We support long-term, resilient health systems that contribute to national development and global health goals.
  10. Public Service – We are dedicated to improving the health and well-being of the people of Bangladesh through informed policy and strategic action.
Meeting with health minister
Climate change and Public health course
With state minister of health
NLP 3
NLP 2
Climate change and public health policy brief at Senate DU
cchpu
Social business
UN resident co-ordinator of Bangladesh
Social Business day 25
National Parliament
National Policy conference
BIGM Conference with B

Our Services

National Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) Policy Dialogue 2026

The National Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR) Policy Dialogue 2026, held on 23 June 2026 at the CIRDAP Auditorium, Dhaka, brought together policymakers, researchers, academics, and development partners to promote evidence-informed health policymaking in Bangladesh. Organized by the Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, Alliance for Health Reforms Bangladesh (AHRB), Health Economics Unit (HEU), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), with support from Results for Development (R4D), the dialogue focused on the theme: “Realizing Good Health for All in Bangladesh: Advancing Primary Health Care Reforms through Health Policy and Systems Research.” The event highlighted twenty-five policy briefs and research posters addressing critical issues, including the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Roadmap (2026–2035), health financing, referral systems, urban primary healthcare models, maternal health service readiness, non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance, rural physician retention, catastrophic health expenditure, and strategic purchasing. These studies provided practical evidence to strengthen primary healthcare and improve health system performance. The dialogue emphasized the importance of translating research into policy by fostering collaboration among government agencies, academic institutions, researchers, and development partners. It also identified priority reforms to improve health governance, financing, service delivery, and equity. Overall, the event reinforced Bangladesh's commitment to evidence-based policymaking and highlighted Health Policy and Systems Research as a key driver for achieving "Good Health for All," strengthening primary healthcare, and accelerating progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SRHR and Education

Share-Net International Biannual Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) The Share-Net International (SNI) Biannual Conference, organized by the Share-Net Bangladesh Country Hub served as a global knowledge-sharing platform on **Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)** for adolescents and youth. Held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference was hosted through an interactive digital platform developed by **Red Orange Media and Communications**, enabling participation from researchers, policymakers, development partners, non-governmental organizations, media professionals, and practitioners worldwide. The opening session was graced by **Harry Verweij**, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, as the Guest of Honour. The conference adopted a unique co-creation approach, emphasizing collaborative knowledge generation rather than conventional presentations. Participants worked together to develop evidence-based knowledge products that would inform national and global policies and practices related to adolescent and youth SRHR. Discussions focused on universal access to sexual and reproductive health services, youth-friendly healthcare, prevention of teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality, child marriage, menstrual health management, sexual orientation, comprehensive sexuality education, and the use of digital media for health communication. Aligned with **Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being)**, the conference aimed to strengthen evidence-informed policymaking while encouraging innovation through competitive small grants awarded to promising knowledge products, thereby promoting sustainable improvements in adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health.

Bangladesh Parliament

Parliament of Bangladesh: An Academic Summary The Parliament of Bangladesh is the supreme legislative institution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh and is constitutionally known as the **Jatiyo Shangsad or the House of the Nation**. It operates under a **unicameral parliamentary system**, where legislative authority is vested in a single chamber responsible for enacting laws, approving the national budget, and ensuring executive accountability. The Parliament consists of **350 members**, including **300 directly elected representatives** from territorial constituencies through **universal adult suffrage**. To promote gender inclusion in the legislative process, **50 additional seats are reserved for women**, who are elected by the elected Members of Parliament through a system of **proportional representation using the Single Transferable Vote (STV)**. This mechanism aims to enhance women's participation in national decision-making and strengthen inclusive governance. As the principal legislative body, the Parliament plays a fundamental role in formulating public policies, scrutinizing government actions, and representing the interests of citizens. It serves as a cornerstone of Bangladesh's democratic governance by facilitating debate, ensuring transparency, and upholding constitutional principles. Through its legislative and oversight functions, the Parliament contributes significantly to political stability, institutional accountability, and the country's social and economic development.

Welcome to you all for health policy research.

Health policy and systems research (HPSR) is an emerging field that seeks to understand and improve how societies organize themselves in achieving collective health goals, and how different actors interact in the policy and implementation processes to contribute to policy outcomes. By nature, it is inter-disciplinary, a blend of economics, sociology, anthropology, political science, public health and epidemiology that together draw a comprehensive picture of how health systems respond and adapt to health policies, and how health policies can shape − and be shaped by − health systems and the broader determinants of health.

Health policy and systems research can be employed at several points in the policy cycle, from getting an issue onto the policy agenda to evaluating and learning from implemented policies. In this way, HPSR is characterized not by any particular methodology, but the types of questions it addresses. It focuses primarily upon the more upstream aspects of health, organizations and policies, rather than clinical or preventive services or basic scientific research (for example into cell or molecular structures). It covers a wide range of questions − from financing to governance − and issues surrounding implementation of services and delivery of care in both the public and private sectors. It is a crucial policy analysis tool − of both policies and processes − including the role, interests and values of key actors at local, national and global levels.

The appropriate mix of disciplines to be used in HPSR depends largely on the nature of the research question being addressed. An evaluation of a health insurance scheme might draw upon economics to understand the financial consequences of the scheme and its impact upon demand for services, anthropology to understand various socio-cultural and organizational aspects as well as patterns of consumption, and epidemiology to understand its health consequences.

…….By WHO

POLICY QUESTIONS OF HEALTH SYSTEMS?

  1. How can evidence-based policy and financing models be designed to effectively transition Bangladesh away from a system reliant on out-of-pocket payments and toward a more equitable framework that secures sustainable universal health coverage (UHC)
  2. What are the most effective and cost-efficient national policy interventions for preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and how can a national prevention strategy be integrated into Bangladesh’s broader health system to shift the focus from treatment to long-term, population-based wellness?
  3. What are the operational and systemic barriers to integrating Bangladesh’s fragmented primary healthcare facilities, and what specific policy levers are required to build a unified, patient-centered service delivery network that prioritizes both equity and quality?
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