Govt hospitals to offer free dengue tests to reduce deaths
Currently, dengue test fees at government hospitals are Tk50, while private hospitals charge Tk300
The health ministry has decided to provide free initial dengue tests (NS1) at all government hospitals across the country in a bid to reduce dengue-related deaths. Patients registered at emergency, outpatient, and inpatient departments of government hospitals will be able to take the free test on doctors' advice.
After reviewing data on dengue-related deaths, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said most patients died because they delayed going to the hospital. With free testing facilities in place, people will be more encouraged to get tested, allowing early detection and ultimately reducing deaths from dengue.
The DGHS has written to the health ministry, proposing that NS1 tests be made free of cost at all government hospitals until 30 November. On Wednesday, the ministry also sought the finance ministry's consent in this regard.
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Currently, dengue test fees at government hospitals are Tk50, while private hospitals charge Tk300.
A senior finance ministry official told TBS, "This is a good initiative. The finance ministry is ready to approve the proposal. Earlier, the government also approved proposals to make costly Covid-19 tests and other expensive treatments completely free of charge."
Dr Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan, Director (Hospital and Clinic), DGHS, told The Business Standard, "If dengue tests are made completely free, people will be encouraged to get tested as soon as fever starts, and more people will come under testing. The earlier a patient is tested, the sooner the disease can be detected and treatment can begin, which will reduce the death rate. That is why we have requested that dengue tests be made free."
According to the DGHS dengue death review report, more than half of this year's dengue fatalities in Bangladesh occurred within just 24 hours of hospital admission, largely due to delayed hospitalisation.
DGHS Director of Communicable Disease Control Dr Halimur Rashid said, "So far, we have reviewed 114 dengue deaths. Of them, 66 patients died within 0–24 hours of hospitalisation, 18 within 24–48 hours, five within 48–72 hours, and 25 after 72 hours."
He noted that most of the deceased sought medical care late – typically after enduring fever for three to six days – leaving their average hospital stay before death at just 2.5 days.
Dhaka and Barguna districts recorded the highest number of fatalities, with Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) reporting the most among healthcare facilities.
Currently, 2,062 dengue patients are undergoing treatment at different hospitals across the country, 1,300 of which are from outside Dhaka.
The dengue last year claimed 575 lives and infected 1,01,214 people in the country.
