Under the leadership of Health Economics Unit, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, International University of Business Agriculture and Technology (IUBAT), and Spreeha Foundation have launched “Techno-Economic Study of AI-Integrated Primary Health Care Delivery in Bangladesh" on July 16, 2026. This marks an important step towards exploring how artificial intelligence can strengthen the country’s primary healthcare system. The study will assess the technical, economic, and operational feasibility of integrating AI-enabled technologies into Bangladesh’s primary healthcare infrastructure. The study is funded by Spreeha Foundation and the Department of Public Health, IUBAT is the academic partner.
Dr. M A Muhit, Honorable State Minister, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, officially inaugurated the project as the Chief Guest. Speaking at the launch, the Honorable State Minister said, “I believe this study is a good first step towards the re-modelling of health sector scenario of Bangladesh integrating technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) that aligns with the Government’s priority and election manifesto.” He expressed optimism – “This is a very ideal setting – a collaboration between government, academia and non-profits to reach a shared goal. I look forward to coming back next year to discuss the research outcomes at the learning dissemination event.”
The program also featured remarks from the Special Guest: Professor Dr. Abdur Rab, Vice Chancellor, IUBAT. He highlighted, “You may love or hate AI but you cannot ignore it. The new generation could play a vital role in leading and implementing technology as they are more habituated to it. I am happy to see researchers and students from Department of Public Health, IUBAT are actively engaged in this study and they will continue to do so even after this current project ends.”
The launch event was chaired by Dr. Md. Enamul Haque, Director General (Additional Secretary), Health Economics Unit. Under the leadership of the Health Economics Unit, the study will bring together expertise from government, academia, healthcare, economics, and technology to develop evidence-based recommendations for the potential adoption of AI within the primary healthcare system.
An overview of the research project was presented by Professor Dr. S. K. Nazmul Huda, Team Leader of the project and Chairman of the Department of Public Health at IUBAT. He outlined the study's objectives, implementation plan, and the potential impact of AI integration on Bangladesh's primary health care services.
Representing Spreeha Foundation, Dr. Michael Tjalve, Board Chair, delivered a presentation emphasizing that "Healthcare is fundamentally a human-centered endeavor. AI can enable healthcare professionals to spend more time with patients, provide better information, enhance engagement, and expand access to care." He also highlighted that compassion is one of Spreeha Foundation's core values, guiding the development of human-centered and explainable AI solutions for primary health care.
A technical presentation was jointly delivered by Dr. Ishtique Zahid and Tahsin Ifnoor Sayeed of Spreeha Foundation, highlighting key aspects of implementing AI in the healthcare sector. The presentations were followed by an interactive open discussion and question-and-answer session with participants.
The event brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, academics, development partners, and technology experts from across the country. Participants exchanged views on the opportunities, challenges, ethical considerations, safety measures, and future directions for implementing AI-integrated primary health care in Bangladesh.
The findings of the study are expected to inform future policy discussions, strategic investment decisions, implementation planning, and the responsible adoption of AI- enabled healthcare technologies. Through this initiative, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare reinforces its commitment to building a more accessible, efficient, inclusive, and future-ready healthcare system for the people of Bangladesh.
