Private hospitals must admit measles patients: DGHS

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has ordered all private healthcare facilities to admit and treat measles and suspected measles patients, amid reports that some hospitals were refusing such cases.

In two notices issued yesterday (19 May), signed by Dr Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan, director (Hospitals and Clinics) of the DGHS, private hospitals were instructed to set up separate wards or cabins for measles patients and coordinate treatment with local government health facilities.

Under the Private Medical College and Dental College Act-2022, private medical college hospitals must reserve at least 10% of beds free for poor patients.

The DGHS has now directed that half of those beds be allocated to measles and suspected measles cases. In a 250-bed hospital, for example, 12 beds must be designated for measles patients.

Hospitals have also been asked to inform emergency departments and inquiry desks about the directives, allow only one attendant per admitted patient, and upload daily patient data to the DGHS MIS server (http://surveillance.dghs.gov.bd).

A hotline number – 01759114488 – has been provided for assistance if needed, it added.

The DGHS also instructed government hospitals to ensure adequate staffing at measles isolation wards, with specialist physicians required to conduct rounds twice daily, including on holidays.

According to a separate notice, all government healthcare institutions must also designate separate wards or cabins for the treatment of measles and suspected measles patients.

In a separate 18-point directive issued yesterday, the DGHS ordered government hospitals to maintain uninterrupted healthcare services during the Eid-ul-Adha holidays from 25 May to 31 May.

The directive said emergency departments, labour rooms, ICUs, laboratories, measles wards, ambulance services, CT scan and MRI facilities must remain operational round the clock.

Hospitals were also instructed to ensure adequate doctors and health workers at children's wards and measles isolation units.

Specialist physicians must conduct morning and evening ward rounds every day, including holidays, while additional doctors may be deployed to emergency units if required.

The DGHS also instructed hospitals to stock sufficient medicines, IV fluids, reagents and surgical supplies before the holidays and ensure emergency replenishment during the vacation period.

Ambulance services must remain operational, while hospitals have been asked to coordinate with local administration and law enforcement agencies to ensure security during Eid, it added.

11 more die in 24 hours, death toll 475

The DGHS said 11 more children died from measles and measles-like symptoms between 8am Monday and 8am yesterday.

During the same period, 1,264 patients with measles-like symptoms were admitted to hospitals nationwide, while 73 cases were laboratory-confirmed as measles.

So far this year, 77 children have died from confirmed measles infections, while another 389 children died with symptoms consistent with the disease.

DGHS data shows 7,929 measles cases were laboratory-confirmed between 15 March and 19 May. Nationwide, 56,586 suspected cases have been identified, of whom 40,090 have recovered and been discharged.