On 12 November 2025, Swisscontact’s ASTHA project hosted a strategic dialogue titled “Financing the Future of Rural Healthcare” at Crowne Plaza, Dhaka. The event convened commercial banks, non-banking financial organisations (NBFIs), and impact investors to explore financing pathways for the emerging ASTHA CarePoint model.
This initiative marks a key step toward building sustainable, accessible primary healthcare for rural communities in Bangladesh by bridging the gap between healthcare entrepreneurs and private-sector finance.
The dialogue centered on unlocking investment mechanisms for health enterprises in remote areas by leveraging private-sector financing to scale CarePoint: digitally connected, quality-assured healthcare hubs operated by local entrepreneurs. These hubs deliver essential services, including rapid diagnostics, doctor consultations, and access to quality medicines, to underserved communities.
Abdul Awal, Team Leader-ASTHA, Swisscontact Bangladesh, opened the session with a keynote presentation. Speaking at the event, Mr Awal highlighted ASTHA’s journey and vision for sustainable, entrepreneur-led ecosystem:
“For over a decade, ASTHA has supported the development of a skilled Community Paramedic workforce across Bangladesh. The next step is to strengthen the entrepreneurial potential of rural healthcare providers and create pathways for new entrepreneurs, enabling them to operate sustainable, investable health enterprises at the last mile. CarePoints are designed to offer exactly that opportunity. CarePoints embody that future.”
The discussion also featured insights from Carnival Care, a key implementation partner for ASTHA. Dr. Farshid Bhuiyan, CEO of Carnival Care, shared their experiences in operating tech-enabled healthcare networks and emphasized how the CarePoint model ensures quality and accountability through digital health records, remote supervision, and ongoing training.
The core of the event was an open roundtable moderated by Parvez Asheque, Team Leader, Swisscontact Bangladesh, where participants discussed the challenges and opportunities in creating financing solutions for rural health enterprises. Key themes included investment readiness, blended-finance models, risk-sharing arrangements, and the role of technical partners in reducing operational and financial risk. Participants also highlighted the need for stronger data on enterprise performance and service utilisation to help financiers better assess risks and make investment decisions.
Swisscontact’s ASTHA project continues to enhance equitable healthcare access by strengthening the Community Paramedic ecosystem and promoting private sector-led solutions.