The High Court on Monday directed the Directorate General of Health Services to provide adequate number of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), hand gloves and surgical masks to the doctors and nurses of private hospitals and clinics.

A virtual bench of Justice Md Obaidul Hasan passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Human Right and Peace for Bangladesh.

The HC also sought a report within seven days on the steps and recommendations of the Advisory Committee that was formed under Infectious Diseases (Prevent and Control) Act-2018 over the coronavirus outbreak.

Advocate Manzil Murshid stood for the writ petitioner while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the state.

On May 14, the writ petition was filed with the High Court (HC) seeking its directive to ensure proper health services at all private hospitals and clinics in country during the coronavirus pandemic.

The petition sought allocation of sufficient PPE, hand gloves, surgical masks and other equipment for the physicians, nurses and staff of the hospitals.

The petition sought setting up of PCR machines at all private hospitals and clinics and establishing ‘Yellow Zone’ where patients with other health complications other than coronavirus will get necessary treatment.

Murshid said the writ was filed as different media ran reports that patients are not getting treatment at private hospital and clinics and even some died in ambulance.

Also read: COVID-19: Writ filed seeking proper health services at pvt hospitals, clinics