Bangladesh and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have outlined a €250 million programme to improve maternal and newborn care, expand cervical and breast cancer services, and strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

The proposed Women’s Health Initiative aims to expand access to essential health services for around 47 million women and girls between 2027 and 2031, according to a press release issued in Berlin on Saturday.

The programme would also strengthen primary healthcare, referral services, district hospitals and critical-care facilities, while improving access to emergency obstetric and newborn care.

The initiative would use funds from an existing EIB sovereign loan approved in 2021 to support Bangladesh’s Covid-19 immunisation programme, pandemic preparedness and broader health system resilience.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said the initiative reflected the government’s commitment to building a stronger and more equitable healthcare system, with greater emphasis on prevention and access to quality services closer to communities.

“Our partnership with the European Investment Bank and UNFPA will help us turn that ambition into lasting results for millions of people,” he said.

Dr Ziauddin Hyder, special adviser to the Prime Minister on health, said the investment would support the government’s vision of shifting the healthcare system from treatment towards prevention and health promotion.

EIB Vice-President Marek Mora said investment in women’s health would contribute to stronger families, more resilient communities and sustainable economic development.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which supported the development of the programme, is expected to provide technical expertise during implementation. Its Executive Director, Diene Keita, said the initiative could help address persistent underinvestment in women’s health through national leadership, development financing and specialised expertise.

The programme comes as the government pursues broader healthcare reforms, including plans to increase public health expenditure from 1% to 5% of gross domestic product, according to the press release.

The government has also outlined plans to recruit 100,000 community health workers, 80% of them women, and deploy 25,000 professional midwives across public primary and secondary healthcare facilities.

The government is scheduled to discuss the initiative at a UNFPA panel during the World Health Summit in Berlin on Sunday.