At the World Health Summit in Berlin, the summit’s CEO praised Bangladesh for its leadership in community-based health care and urged global partners to learn from its experience. He said Bangladesh has built strong local systems that focus on mothers, children and village-level care, and that these services show how steady local work can make health fairer for more people. The CEO spoke about how trust grows when health workers live near the people they serve, when community volunteers are trained, and when simple tools like oxygen supplies, essential medicines and telemedicine reach district clinics. He said such practical steps can save lives, cut costs, and help countries get ready for emergencies. Health experts and panelists highlighted programs that used community health workers, mobile health units and public-private partnerships to reach remote areas, and they noted that these models can be scaled carefully. The talk also stressed the need for fair and secure digital systems so that new technology supports local care while protecting personal data. Speakers urged donors and governments to fund local production of key supplies, back training for nurses and technicians, and support small pilot projects that prove what works. Practical ideas on the table included expanding training for village health teams, setting up more oxygen plants near hospitals, funding telemedicine pilots for rural clinics, and boosting local laboratory capacity so tests get done faster. Participants said simple targets and short pilots build trust faster than big, slow programs. The discussion also made room for women’s leadership, mental health services and plans that link climate resilience with health care, noting that healthy communities depend on clean air, safe water and steady power. Panelists called for partnerships that share skills, not just money, and for contracts that help small local firms make and service health equipment. The overall message was optimistic: by focusing on ground-level work, fair partnerships and measurable steps, countries can strengthen health systems in ways people feel and trust. If the ideas are turned into action, more families would get reliable care close to home, local jobs would grow in health services, and nations would be better prepared for future health threats. Many left the session with clear, practical steps to try and a sense that steady effort and simple pilots can lead to real change. Community engagement, clear local budgets and support for midwives and nurses were named as easy wins that can be scaled. Many emphasized that equity means leaving no one behind, so plans should reach the poorest and most remote families. Leaders invited other nations to listen and adapt ideas rather than copy them, and they stressed that local leadership must guide any partnership. Many pledged to begin modest pilot projects.
