At a World Heart Day roundtable in Dhaka, health experts warned that Bangladesh has made important progress in cardiac care but still faces big gaps and urgent needs, and they offered clear steps to prevent heart disease and expand care. The country now has modern treatments and more centres outside the capital, yet most advanced care remains concentrated in Dhaka while many upazilas and districts lack basic tests and units to treat chest pain. Experts said Bangladesh has about 1,200 cardiologists, 200 cardiac surgeons, 40 paediatric cardiologists and 15 paediatric cardiac surgeons for a population of about 180 million, and they noted shortages of nurses, anaesthetists and technicians that limit services. Complex paediatric surgeries, minimally invasive valve procedures and some aortic operations are still available in very few centres, and many patients travel abroad to seek care. Speakers praised gains such as quicker heart attack treatment and growing cath lab capacity, and they praised hospitals that have built strong cardiac teams and local training. But prevention is the top priority, they said, because many heart problems are linked to high blood pressure, diabetes, poor diets, lack of exercise, tobacco use and pollution. The panel urged large but simple moves to change behaviour: teach children healthy habits in school, run workplace wellness programs, mount public awareness drives, and make counselling and screening easier to reach. Experts also asked that primary health centres be equipped with ECGs and troponin tests so chest pain is diagnosed quickly and patients are referred without delay. Rehabilitation after a heart attack is rare and must expand, they said, as recovery can take months and affects families’ incomes. Practical fixes include more CPR training for police and community groups, regular international training for doctors and nurses, a pre-registration exam to raise basic clinical skills, and career paths to recruit and keep nurses and paramedics to fill an urgent shortfall. Panelists recommended policy changes such as lower taxes on devices, support for local manufacturing of equipment, and co-payment or subsidy models to keep essential medicines flowing at NCD corners. They noted that free medicines at 446 upazilas and districts have helped blood pressure control rise from about 13 percent to nearly 56 percent among those reached, showing prevention and steady supply work. The tone was hopeful: with joined public and private action, clearer referral systems, stronger prevention and more trained staff, Bangladesh can widen access to heart care, cut preventable deaths, and help families stay healthy and productive. Experts urged simple digital patient registries, phone follow-ups and mobile outreach to reach remote areas. They also urged research into why young people suffer heart attacks so solutions can be tailored to local needs and save lives, and act quickly.
