Digital General Practitioner Model: Transforming Urban Primary Healthcare in Bangladesh

The Digital General Practitioner (GP) model, introduced through Aalo Clinics, is revolutionizing urban primary healthcare in Bangladesh, addressing the gap caused by historically rural-focused health policies amid rapid urbanization. Implemented in six pilot clinics, the model served 124,926 individuals, showcasing its acceptability, feasibility, and effectiveness. This digital approach enables routine health screenings, early risk identification, consultations, and referrals to secondary facilities. It primarily targets non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension (31% prevalence) and diabetes (24%), particularly among those over 40 years of age. The study revealed significant utilization by women (64.6% of patients), reflecting enhanced access and health equity. The Digital GP model employs an Integrated Digital Health Platform (IDHP) for seamless patient management, enabling paperless records, telemedicine, and AI-driven clinical decision support. By enhancing primary healthcare accessibility and reducing pressure on tertiary facilities, the model is a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in Bangladesh. Its scalability and effectiveness make it a promising solution for urban healthcare challenges in low- and middle-income countries.