“Despite the cancellation of leave, the city hospitals will see the lack of doctors during the Eid vacation. They (doctors) will be in holiday mood,” said Dr Harun-or-Rashid, head of medicine department of Dhaka Community Medical College & Hospital (DCMCH).
Talking to UNB, he also said most hospitals are making special rosters and arrangements to keep their services undisturbed, but it will be very challenging to ensure the presence of physicians, especially at private ones.
“Many doctors at private hospitals may try to avoid their duties during the eid vacation to go to their home or spend time with families which will eventually put pressure on public hospitals,” Dr Harun added.
According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 1,159 dengue cases were reported in the capital in the last 24 hours till 8am on Thursday while 5,140 dengue patients are currently hospitalised here.
Contacted, Health Minister Zahid Maleque, said, “We’re concerned about the Eid time. The Eid vacation of the officials concerned has already been cancelled and we’re monitoring the situation constantly.”
He said a cell has been opened at his ministry to monitor whether doctors are working or not during the vacation. “We’ll take instant actions in the case of any negligence.”
Assuring that there will be no shortage of doctors, nurses and other medical staff during the eid vacation, he urged all not to be panicked. “We’re working together so that people can be freed from dengue infection through proper treatment.”
Public hospital authorities said they are taking preparations to keep their services as usual and uninterrupted while those at private hospitals said they are making special eid rosters and trying to manage doctors to continue their works.
Principal of Dhaka Medical College Prof Dr Khan Abul Kalam Azad said their services will remain uninterrupted during the eid as no one of their doctors and other staff will be allowed to leave the station.
He said the city has been witnessing sporadic rains for the last few days which are only contributing to aggravating the dengue situation. “But we’re taking necessary preparations to deal with the pressure of patients during the eid.”
Dr Imrul Haque of E&T department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) said the authorities have asked their doctors not to leave the station and remain ready to discharge duty during the eid vacation.
He said a special roster has already been made for ensuring the availability of adequate doctors on August 11-13 at the BSMMU.
However, another doctor at the BSMMU said many of their colleagues are planning to go home showing various excuses.
Dr Md Emadul Haque at Central Police Hospital in Rajarbagh said as the government has cancelled the leave of doctors and other medical staff concerned they will not face any problem in providing healthcare services to patients, including the dengue-infected ones. “We’ve already made an eid-time roster.”
He said their hospital is under tremendous pressure due to surge in dengue patents. “Though our hospital has 250-bed capacity, we’re providing treatment to over 350 indoor patients, mostly police members and their relatives due to spike in dengue cases.”
A director of a private hospital, wishing anonymity, said they are making their best efforts to convince their colleagues to perform duty during the vacation, but many of them are unwilling to do that. “They’re saying they’ve been passing a busy time for over two months due to the dengue outbreak, and they now want to give their family some time during the eid.”
Medical officer of Monowara Hospital Ltd Dr MA Hasib said their hospital is providing treatment to 20-25 dengue patients on average a day. “We think the flow of patients will continue during the eid time as well. All the doctors may not remain available during the eid, but authorities are making a special roster to deal with the situation.”
He said it looks Moghbazar, Shantinagar, Malibagh, Khilgaon Dhanmondi and Badda areas are badly affected with dengue while the Aedes mosquitos are spreading faster in newer areas.
Abdul Malek Mridha, deputy director (admin) at Dr Sirajul Islam Medical College & Hospital, said they are trying to ensure the presence of necessary doctors and nurses during the eid to cope with the pressure of dengue patients.