DHAKA – Around 57 percent graduates in Public Health discipline face significant challenges in finding jobs in relevant fields, according to a new study by Bangladesh Health Watch (BHW).
Their barriers to employment include limited job and research opportunities in public health sector, lack of curricula designed to develop job-ready skills, and a shortage of qualified educators, according to the report, titled “State of Professional Public Health Education in Bangladesh (2023-2024),” launched at an event held at BRAC Tower in Dhaka’s Mohakhali today.
It was the ninth report published by BHW, a civil-society platform that has been publishing reports on various health issues since 2006.
Highlighting key findings of the study, Mahruba Khanam, coordinator (research) of BHW, said non-medical graduates face more challenges than their medical counterparts, and public university graduates encounter more difficulties compared to those from private institutions.
The study, conducted in November 2023, involving 300 undergraduates of different institutions, revealed that graduates from public institutions such as Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Jahangirnagar University face the highest challenges, while those from North South University face the least.
Respondents from BSMMU reported the most employment challenges (82pc), followed by JU (over 64pc), Daffodil International University (over 59pc), National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (NIPSOM) (over 58pc), BRAC University (James P Grant School of Public Health) (over 55pc), North South University (over 40pc), and other institutions (over 69pc).
The survey, however, did not include an equal number of participants from all institutions.
Addressing the event, Professor Mohammad Zahirul Islam of NSU emphasised that public health graduates from private institutions face fewer challenges due to better communication skills and curriculum diversity.
Dr Ataur Rahman, director of Center for Professional Skill Development and a contributor to the report, said hiring external faculty and high dropout rates among public health students contribute to these challenges.
Professor Rounaq Jahan, convener of BHW Advisory Council and distinguished fellow at Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), suggested prioritising reforms in public health education, and advocated for collaboration between public and private institutions, maintaining curriculum standards, and integrating public health into governance frameworks.
Speaking as chief guest, Md Sarwar Bari, secretary to the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division, acknowledged significant progress achieved in public health education recently, and stressed that it should not remain theoretical, and its benefits must be extended to the community level.
Ahmad Mushtaque Raza Chowdhury, convenor of BHW, chaired the event.
Miranda Beckman, health advisor at Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), spoke, among others.