Health Minister Urges China to Ease Market Access for Bangladeshi Pharmaceuticals
Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr. Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has urged China to ease market access for Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals while proposing joint initiatives in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) production, technology transfer, research, and smart health infrastructure. Speaking on Wednesday at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Global Health Forum 2026 in Haikou, China, he highlighted the domestic sector’s strong position, which currently exports to nearly 160 countries. He stressed that Bangladesh prioritizes digital health, healthy aging, and vaccine security to deepen regional healthcare partnerships.
Underscoring the transformative role of technology in modern medicine, the Minister emphasized vast potential in AI-driven diagnosis, precision medicine, robotic surgery, and remote patient monitoring, inviting international technology firms to establish local partnerships. Addressing Asia’s demographic shift, he stated that joint efforts are crucial for geriatric care and resilient supply chains. ‘The future of Asia’s health sector hinges on how effectively countries collaborate, innovate, and share responsibilities,’ Minister Mr. Sakhawat remarked while urging Asian nations to collectively strengthen regional health security and technological innovation.
The high-level conference convened key international figures, including World Health Organization leaders and officials from China, Laos, and Egypt. Highlighting the event’s diplomatic weight, Mr. Leung Chun-ying, Vice Chairman of the 14th CPPCC National Committee and former Hong Kong Chief Executive, was also in attendance. The summit concluded with a unified call to accelerate cross-border technology transfers and establish robust healthcare frameworks across the region.
