Earlier to this training, the HEU also met with its stakeholders in Dhaka on 22 September to share findings and experiences on recent costing studies in health. Over the past year, a series of health sector costing studies have been completed in Bangladesh to prepare for and support the next five-year health sector program. In addition, the Essential Service Package (ESP) has been revised and a feasibility analysis (including l health-facility level costing) has been completed by Planning Wing of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, with the assistance of WHO.
Assessing the cost of health services is a necessary exercise to ensure the attainment of the service coverage goal in the march towards UHC. Costing provides the evidence for generating more resources, distributing it equitably and efficiently. During the event, participants discussed various dimensions of the costing studies and their uses for policy, planning and programming in the context of Bangladesh. It also explored possible areas of collaboration for data sharing and facilitate costing of the ESP.