United News of Bangladesh

The government has directed private hospitals across the country to provide free treatment to dengue patients in at least 10 percent of their beds, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Tuesday. “Under the new directive, private hospitals will reserve 10 percent of their beds for dengue patients and waive doctors' consultation fees for those receiving treatment. Patients will only have to bear the costs of medicines and meals,” the minister told reporters after a meeting on dengue prevention and preparedness. Besides, private hospitals have been asked to offer discounts of up to 80 percent on diagnostic tests for dengue patients, he said. Meanwhile, all private hospitals must submit detailed information to the Health Ministry within the next three days including the number of beds allocated for dengue patients, the stock of saline and other essential fluids, and their future procurement plans. Regarding dengue vaccination, the minister said although dengue vaccines are being used in some countries they have not yet gained universal acceptance. "Bangladesh will not launch a dengue vaccination programme immediately without consulting international organisations and experts," he said, adding that discussions will be held with the World Health Organization and UNICEF and other relevant bodies before any decision is taken in this reagard. The minister also sought cooperation from the media and private hospitals in raising public awareness about dengue prevention. He also urged television channels to broadcast dengue awareness messages during programme breaks and asked city corporations to intensify drives to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds in abandoned toilets and other places where water accumulates. Punitive measures, including mobile court actions, would be taken against individuals who fail to maintain cleanliness and allow mosquito breeding, he warned. "Dengue prevention is not the responsibility of the government alone, it is a collective responsibility. Like Covid-19 pandemic, everyone must work together to tackle the challenge,” said the minister. Besides, coordinated efforts involving doctors, nurses, hospital owners, media outlets and local administrations would be crucial to keeping the dengue situation under control, he added. The minister also said the government would directly contact patients to monitor whether hospitals are providing the announced facilities and services. A nationwide awareness campaign will be held and rallies would be held simultaneously at 10 am on Saturday in Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation, all divisional headquarters and district towns, he said. The campaign, which will continue for three months, will include public announcements, media advertisements, community meetings and courtyard gatherings aimed at mobilising public participation in dengue prevention, he added. Bangladesh on Monday recorded a sharp rise in dengue infections, with one more death and 110 new patients admitted to hospitals across the country in the last 24 hours.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to close all unregistered clinics, private hospitals and diagnostic centres across the country within 72 hours. The instruction was given after a meeting chaired by Additional Director General (Admin) of DGHS Prof Dr Ahmedul Kabir at DGHS conference room in the afternoon. Also read: Health rules to be maintained till 100 percent vaccination achieved: DGHS The directors of all illegal clinics, diagnostic centers and private hospitals, civil surgeons and divisional and upazila health officers have been asked to enforce the instruction. The meeting also decided to give a deadline to renew their license. If the hospitals, clinic and diagnostic centers fail to renew their licenses within the deadline then their operation will be suspended. Also read: Covid positivity rate in Bangladesh declines in a week: DGHS The meeting also decided that harsh action including revoking the licenses will be taken against hospitals and clinics if they allow other people to stay at the operation theaters other than registered physicians. Besides, no clinic, private hospital and diagnostics center will be allowed to run their activities until they get a license.

Private hospitals charge up to Tk five lakh on an average for treatment of a corona patient  as low-come middle class people are forced to go there due to shortage of ICU facilities in government hospitals. This was revealed by a recent study of anti-graft watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) titled "Tackling Coronavirus Pandemic: Governance Challenges in COVID-19 Vaccine Management.” Also read: Third party’s involvement behind vaccine crisis: TIB "A large number of the population, mostly the middle class, has been forced to seek treatment at private hospitals due to lack of facilities in dedicated government Covid-19 hospitals," TIB Deputy Programme Manager Md Julkarnayeen said while presenting the results of the study on Tuesday. Besides, the research sheds light on the fact that the rate of inclusion of low-income, rural and impoverished people has been very low in the vaccination drive largely due to lack of publicity and complicated registration process. Also read: TIB seeks transparency in vaccine collection, distribution The study found that around 43% of the vaccinated population have faced problems in registering. The inclusion of women under the vaccination drive was 37%, the study said. The TIB report said that irresponsibility and lack of coordination between government bodies have caused sufferings to  expatriates returning to overseas work. They have to spend an additional Tk 60,000-70,000 each for not having a vaccination certificate.

The government will begin inspection of all private hospitals and diagnostic centres across the country this month after collecting their lists from divisional directors.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Wednesday informed the High Court that 12,543 private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers in the country have submitted applications seeking their licence renewal.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday said it will be possible to get rid of coronavirus very soon if the government and private hospitals work together.   “Everyone should have a contribution to prevent coronavirus. If the government and private hospitals work together, we will be able to bid farewell to coronavirus from the country very soon,” he said.   He made these remarks while inaugurating Zainul Haque Sikder Women's Medical College, Gulshan branch dedicated to treating coronavirus patients, through a video conference from his residence.   Apart from government hospitals, private hospitals have been playing an important role in preventing coronavirus in the country, he said.   He also said that Zainul Haque Sikder Women's Medical College is a modern hospital with 50 beds including 21 intensive care and chest pain units.   The people of this area will get coronavirus testing facilities at the hospital as it has Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing facilities, he added.   Parveen Haque Sikder, MP, director of Sikder Group presided over the inaugural programme where Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services and other officials were present.