Health progress and research culture in Bangladesh
Future Health Systems
Abstract
The emergence of a research culture in Bangladesh promoting rigorous research, developing interventions, and translating evidence into policies made a substantial contribution to the improvement of health outcomes in Bangladesh. Notably, the reduction of mortality from diarrhoea and vaccine preventable diseases and control of fertility have made the most significant contributions to recent health gains. From basic research projects to clinical trials, some institutions played a key part in this progress. Control of diarrhoea through use of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is an example of rigorous research developed at the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B) and implemented by BRAC, which took this discovery to every household through an innovative programme. Bangladesh has now the highest ORT use rate in the world.