Outside, a group of people sits in chairs in a circle as a woman in the middle hands out flyers. A man at the far end is giving a presentation.

Improving Health and Human Capital in Bangladesh .

Systems Strengthening for Health Impact | Human Resources for Supply Chain Management | Health | Human Resources for Health | Private Sector and Health Markets | Gender | Local Capacity Strengthening
Asia

Advancing Universal Health Coverage (AUHC) Activity

Project Dates: October 2017 - December 2023
A sustainable, gender-sensitive, pro-poor social enterprise is helping Bangladesh get closer to achieving universal health coverage.

Bangladesh made remarkable improvement in population health outcomes, reducing maternal, infant, and under-five mortality rates. Despite these achievements, however, the health system in Bangladesh struggles to provide quality, affordable health services to its population, particularly the poor. Since 1997, Smiling Sun Clinics — the world’s largest NGO network of maternal and child health clinics — has played an important role in advancing the Bangladeshi government’s commitment to universal health coverage. The challenge was turning this collection of key players in Bangladesh’s health sector into a self-sustaining enterprise. Through the USAID Advancing Universal Health Coverage (AUHC) Activity, these Smiling Sun Clinics transformed into the Surjer Hashi Network, a centrally managed, private social enterprise that continues providing millions of people with high-quality, affordable care. To guide the Surjer Hashi Network on the path toward sustainability, AUHC introduced innovative business and operational models, created research-based health service packages for the poor, and experimented with new health service delivery channels. AUHC also supported efforts to improve healthcare access through partnerships with Green Hill Clinics based in the mountainous areas of the Chittagong Region. Having developed a robust research agenda, AUHC monitored the impact of new systems and processes on advancing universal health coverage.

Project Goals


  • Developed and implemented a program to transform the Smiling Sun Network into a centrally managed, sustainable private social enterprise
  • Improved the quality of health care in Bangladesh
  • Adopted innovative approaches to expand access to and uptake of essential service packages
  • Developed and implemented sustainable financial systems to facilitate expanded coverage and ensure equitable access to health services

Our Impact Women Health Clinic Managers in Bangladesh Model Strong Leadership

These five top-performing female clinic managers serve as exemplary women leaders in Bangladesh’s healthcare sector.

Bangladesh made remarkable improvement in population health outcomes, reducing maternal, infant, and under-five mortality rates. Despite these achievements, however, the health system in Bangladesh struggles to provide quality, affordable health services to its population, particularly the poor. Since 1997, Smiling Sun Clinics — the world’s largest NGO network of maternal and child health clinics —…

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Our Impact Making Vision Care Services More Accessible in Remote Areas of Bangladesh

Through the USAID Advancing Universal Health Coverage (AUHC) activity, Chemonics is making health services, including vision care, more accessible in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh made remarkable improvement in population health outcomes, reducing maternal, infant, and under-five mortality rates. Despite these achievements, however, the health system in Bangladesh struggles to provide quality, affordable health services to its population, particularly the poor. Since 1997, Smiling Sun Clinics — the world’s largest NGO network of maternal and child health clinics —…

Read Impact Story
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