A study tour, supported by UNICEF Bangladesh and coordinated by the Institute for Health Policy (IHP), Sri Lanka, was conducted to enhance the technical capacity of Bangladesh's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW). The tour focused on learning from Sri Lanka’s primary healthcare (PHC) system to build a resilient, people-centered, and integrated health system in Bangladesh.
The learning objectives provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of Sri Lanka’s PHC system, emphasizing governance, management, and accountability. Participants explored key areas, including the delivery of essential services, supply chain management for uninterrupted care, and the operational mechanisms of field-level polyclinics and community health workers' home visits. They observed data collection processes from community to national levels and studied program reviews, such as maternal and perinatal death reviews. The tour also included visits to PHC provider training facilities, supportive supervision systems, and strategies for addressing underperforming areas. Additionally, participants examined referral systems to curative care institutions and visited district hospitals to observe maternal and neonatal care. Engagements with the national-level PHC technical team provided further insight into the support mechanisms at district and national levels.
The five-day study tour was attended by senior MOHFW officials, UNICEF Bangladesh representatives, and health experts. The program included site visits, discussions with community health workers, and reflections on Sri Lanka’s PHC practices. Learning from diverse healthcare environments and engaging with local practitioners, participants aimed to apply these insights to strengthen primary healthcare services in Bangladesh.
Study group at the inaugural session held at Kingsbury
Observing the Maternal and Child Health Clinic
Visit to Epidemiology Unit
Visit to Castle Street Hospital for Women
