The government has directed private hospitals across Bangladesh to reserve at least 10% of their beds for dengue patients and provide free treatment services, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said on Monday.
The minister made the announcement after a meeting on dengue prevention and preparedness, stating that under the new directive, private hospitals must allocate 10% of beds for dengue patients, waive doctors’ consultation fees, and allow patients to pay only for medicines and meals.
He also said hospitals have been instructed to offer up to 80% discounts on diagnostic tests for dengue patients. In addition, all private hospitals must submit detailed information to the Health Ministry within three days, including bed allocation, saline stock, and procurement plans.
Regarding dengue vaccination, the minister said no immediate vaccination programme will be introduced without consultation with international health organisations such as the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
He urged media outlets, hospitals, and local authorities to work together to raise awareness and prevent mosquito breeding. He also called for stronger measures, including mobile court drives, against negligence in maintaining cleanliness.
The minister announced a nationwide dengue awareness campaign, including rallies at 10am on Saturday across Dhaka North and South city corporations, divisional headquarters, and district towns. The campaign will continue for three months with public announcements, media broadcasts, and community engagement activities.
He also said the government will directly monitor hospital services for dengue patients. Meanwhile, Bangladesh reported a rise in dengue cases on Monday, with one death and 110 new hospital admissions in the last 24 hours.