The government has proposed doubling financial assistance for poor and underprivileged patients suffering from cancer, kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, stroke-related paralysis, congenital heart disease and thalassemia.

Under the proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, the one-time annual financial assistance for patients with these critical illnesses will be increased from Tk 50,000 to Tk 100,000.

Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury announced the proposal while presenting the national budget in Parliament on Thursday.

The financial support is provided through the Hospital Social Service Programme operated by the Department of Social Services under the Ministry of Social Welfare. According to the budget proposal, many patients are unable to receive necessary treatment due to financial hardship, while treatment expenses often place a severe burden on affected families. The programme has been widely appreciated for supporting low-income patients facing costly medical treatment.

The proposed national budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 has been set at Tk 9.38 trillion under the theme, “Journey Towards a Democratic, Humane and Inclusive Economy.” The revenue target has been fixed at Tk 6.95 trillion, leaving a budget deficit of Tk 2.43 trillion.

To finance the deficit, the government plans to mobilise funds from both domestic and external sources. It aims to secure Tk 1.16 trillion through foreign loans and grants and Tk 1.27 trillion from domestic sources. Of the domestic financing, Tk 1.12 trillion is expected to come from the banking sector, while the remainder will be raised through savings certificates and other instruments.

The budget estimates the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at Tk 68.30 trillion. It also sets targets of reducing inflation to 7.5 percent and achieving economic growth of 6.5 percent in the next fiscal year.

The budget was presented in Parliament under the chairmanship of Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the presence of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. It marks the country's 55th national budget and the first budget presented by Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury.

Following parliamentary procedures, the budget was approved by the Cabinet before being placed in Parliament. Subject to parliamentary approval, the new fiscal year's budget will come into effect on July 1.