With the aim of building a resilient health system, ARK Foundation has launched the Health Economics Research Network (HERN) in Bangladesh with the support of the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York, UK. The launching event of the network was held on April 19, 2022 at the Six Seasons Hotel in Dhaka. The network aims to create a platform which will facilitate high quality research in the field of health economics to inform policy and practice in order to improve population health. 

Professor Rumana Huque, Ph.D., Executive Director, ARK Foundation, and Professor Dr Najma Siddiqi from University of York launched HERN by inaugurating the website and logo of the organization.

 Professor Rumana Huque said that a number of students are completing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in economics and health economics each year from different public and private universities of Bangladesh. However, they still require the practical experience of applying the theory into practice. She also said that the network would work to bridge the knowledge gap and create a platform for local researchers to carry out context-specific research in the field of health economics.

According to Professor Najma Siddiqi, limited networking opportunities with national and international experts create major obstacle for building competent leaders for research in the field of health economics. She hoped that the network would be successful in bringing together academics and experts from across Bangladesh to build health economics research capacity in the country, and facilitate related research in the future.

SM Abdullah, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Dhaka and a Researcher of ARK Foundation gave a brief overview about the network and said that the capacity building efforts would remain a priority objective of the network. He shared future activities of the network including organizing workshops, seminars and training sessions. Md Nazmul Hossain, Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Dhaka and a Researcher of ARK Foundation showcased the recent research works conducted by the organization in different sectors.

ARK Foundation also announced two research grants for students and early career researchers on the occasion of the launching of the network. Information about the grants and membership opportunity will be available on the website and social media of HERN.

The launching ceremony was also joined by academics, experts, researchers, development professionals, and students from different institutions.

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News Brief:

Tahmid Hasan

Research and Communications Officer

ARK Foundation, Bangladesh 01975888855