The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) has launched a training programme on Digital Public Infrastructure for Health (DPI-H), titled “Empowering Youth for Bangladesh’s Digital Health System Transformation” on 20 August 2026. The programme will bring together a total of 100 young participants and aims to strengthen their knowledge, practical skills and employability in Bangladesh’s evolving digital health ecosystem.
At the inaugural session, Dr Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director, CPD, highlighted the persistent disconnect between young people’s education and the skills required in a rapidly changing labour market. She stressed that the programme seeks to the challenge by equipping youth with relevant digital and policy-oriented competencies and creating a stronger link between innovation and its practical application in the health sector. By strengthening young people’s capacity, the initiative aims not only to enhance their readiness for employment but also to enable them to contribute to improving the delivery and accessibility of healthcare services.
Dr Khatun further emphasised the importance of placing youth at the centre of the digital health transformation. Young people can play a dual role as contributors to digital innovation and as beneficiaries of emerging opportunities within the health system. Developing their capacity in digital technologies, health systems and policy can therefore help create a workforce capable of translating innovation into meaningful improvements in healthcare, while opening pathways for more inclusive and sustainable economic opportunities.
Dr. Syed Abdul Hamid, Professor, Institute of Health Economics, University of Dhaka, provided an overview of Bangladesh’s health system, including the public and private healthcare sectors, different levels of healthcare, hospital structures and the patient journey. The session also emphasised values, character and responsible citizenship as important foundations for working in the healthcare sector.
Mr Foqoruddin Al Kabir, Senior Research Associate, CPD, highlighted the programme as an important opportunity for young and fresh graduates to enhance their skills, strengthen their professional capacity and prepare themselves for the job market. He noted that completing the training would provide participants with valuable competencies to support their future professional development.
The training programme will cover a range of areas, including service quality and patient-centred care, digital health and hospital information systems, administrative management, communication and empathetic communication, healthcare facility support, managerial skills, medical terminology, entrepreneurship, healthcare ethics and confidentiality, and quality and patient safety.
Through this initiative, CPD seeks to equip young people with the knowledge, digital capabilities and practical competencies needed to navigate Bangladesh’s changing health system, contribute to the effective implementation of digital innovations, and pursue meaningful opportunities in the emerging digital health ecosystem.
