The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Bangladesh signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly promote public-private partnership (PPP) projects in the country’s health care sector.

The tripartite MOU was signed at a ceremony in Dhaka by the Director General of Health Services; Director General of Bangladesh PPP Authority (PPPA); and ADB Country Director for Bangladesh.

Public health in Bangladesh has improved significantly in recent decades due to high immunization, reduced infant and maternal mortality, and lower fertility rates. The World Health Organization says the country’s remaining health challenges include high incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart attacks, chronic respiratory diseases, kidney diseases, and diabetes. PPPs can provide affordable and quality services to prevent and manage NCDs, and be an alternative to public sector spending to build and operate hospitals and health education facilities.

Under the MOU, ADB’s Office of Public–Private Partnership will identify, prepare, and implement projects under PPP arrangements including in priority areas such as diagnostics and dialysis services. ADB will provide holistic support through the Asia Pacific Project Preparation Facility (AP3F), which can provide integrated support for capacity building, development of standardized templates for procurement and contracting, creation of a potential health care project pipeline, and transaction advisory services.