24% health workers still don’t have PPE: Research | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Saturday
July 19, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Get the Paper
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
SATURDAY, JULY 19, 2025
24% health workers still don’t have PPE: Research

Covid-19 in Bangladesh

TBS Report
20 June, 2020, 06:40 pm
Last modified: 20 June, 2020, 06:44 pm

Related News

  • South Korean medical students to return to school, urge education reforms
  • Doctors demand increasing their BCS age limit to 34
  • 48th special BCS circular published; 3,000 doctors to be appointed
  • Doctors in limbo, patients in peril as dysfunction grips public hospitals
  • Salary increment scheme for doctors, surgeons at final stage: Health adviser

24% health workers still don’t have PPE: Research

A previous survey, conducted from March to April, had revealed that 25% doctors and nurses, and 60% support staff treating Covid-19 cases lacked PPE

TBS Report
20 June, 2020, 06:40 pm
Last modified: 20 June, 2020, 06:44 pm
Representational Image. File Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS
Representational Image. File Photo: Salahuddin Ahmed/TBS

Twenty-four percent of healthcare workers in Bangladesh are yet to receive personal protective equipment (PPE), and 44 percent of those who have PPE are not satisfied with the quality.

Brac University's James P Grant School of Public Health and the Bangladesh Health Watch (BHW) made the announcement during the unveiling of the findings of two researches on PPE and health financing in an online media briefing on Saturday.

Seventy-six percent of healthcare workers currently have PPE, but only 56 percent of them are satisfied with the quality, the report pointed out.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

A previous survey, conducted jointly by the same two organisations from March to April this year, had revealed that 25 percent of doctors and nurses, and around 60 percent of support staff engaged in treating Covid-19 patients lacked any PPE.

Of the two latest researches, one is titled "Re-visiting the front line health workers (FLW) attending to suspected or confirmed Covid-19 patients in Bangladesh: How far has the situation improved in a month [April to May] since the last survey?"

The study revealed that overall, 24 percent of the respondents (23.1% physicians with a MBBS degree), 0% post-graduate physicians, 50% nurses and midwives and 12.5% paramedics) still did not receive PPE at the time of re-interview in May.

However, there has been some improvement in the supply of PPE, especially among the paramedics, compared to the earlier survey conducted in April.

Initially, a Rapid Telephone Survey was conducted from April 9-14 to elicit the perceptions of the FLWs who were directly involved with the management of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases in different public and private healthcare facilities in Bangladesh.

Re-interview was conducted during May 5-11 with 46 respondents (out of 60 originally interviewed) on the relevant issues.

There has been some improvement in arranging accommodation, food, and transportation for the doctors, but not to the extent necessary, and not for the other FLWs.

More than two months into the epidemic (since the identification of the first case of Covid-19 on March 8) have passed, but there is still inadequate training on treating the Covid-19 disease itself and its management, as well as the use of PPE, especially for nurses/midwives and paramedics.

Presenting the study findings, Dr Bushra Zarin Islam – one of the research team members– said, "The situation did not improve much with respect to the quality of the PPE supplied and its proper use due to lack of training, as stated by the FLWs.

"These factors together did little to alleviate the mental health issues of different categories of the FLWs, especially for doctors. This in itself is going to be a big public health problem, now and post-Covid-19.

Dr Islam serves as a senior research associate in the BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health of BRAC University.

Another research, titled "Different Aspects of Health Financing of Covid-19 Response," stated that the current allocation to the health sector only addresses short-term, immediate need with less attention on long-term, sustainable investments for comprehensive Covid-19 management.

Addressing the event, former director general of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Shah Monir Hossain said, "PPE quality verification, and monitoring of where the budgeted money is being spent is very important. But there is no such monitoring cell in the health department."

Responding to queries about the research findings, Joint Secretary of the DGHS Covid Control Room, Dr Rizwanul Karim said, "The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the rational use of the PPE, and we are following this recommendation.

"The researchers should specify what type of PPE the health workers did not receive. Did they get masks, gloves or none at all?"

The online event was moderated by BHW Convener Dr Mushtaque Chowdhury, and attended by Professor Dr Shah Monir Hossain, Professor Dr Abul Faiz, Dr Moudud Hossain and Dr Iqbal Anwar.

Dr AJ Faisel, government appointed divisional advisor on Covid-19, was also present at the programme.

Top News

doctors / PPE / Health Workers

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Infograph: TBS
    Dollar rate falling fast – what it means for the economy
  • Logo of the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Photo: Collected
    Jamaat set for its first-ever Suhrawardy Udyan rally today
  • BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    One party trying to fish in troubled waters through misleading politics: Salahuddin

MOST VIEWED

  • Obayed Ullah Al Masud. Sketch: TBS
    Islami Bank chairman resigns
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and SpaceX Vice President Lauren Dreyer after a meeting at state guest house Jamuna on 18 July 2025. Photo: Focus Bangla
    SpaceX VP Lauren Dreyer praises Bangladesh's efficiency in facilitating Starlink launch
  • GP profit drops 31% in H1
    GP profit drops 31% in H1
  • Around 99% of the cotton used in Bangladesh’s export and domestic garment production is imported. Photo: Collected
    NBR withdraws advance tax on imports of cotton, man-made fibres
  • Governments often rely on foreign loans. Russia’s loans covered 90% of the Rooppur Nuclear Power plant project's cost. Photo: Collected
    Loan tenure for Rooppur plant extended 
  • Representational Photo: Collected
    Railway allocates special trains for Jamaat's national rally in Dhaka

Related News

  • South Korean medical students to return to school, urge education reforms
  • Doctors demand increasing their BCS age limit to 34
  • 48th special BCS circular published; 3,000 doctors to be appointed
  • Doctors in limbo, patients in peril as dysfunction grips public hospitals
  • Salary increment scheme for doctors, surgeons at final stage: Health adviser

Features

Jatrabari in the capital looks like a warzone as police, alongside Chhatra League men, swoop on quota reform protesters. Photo: Mehedi Hasan

19 July 2024: At least 148 killed as government attempts to quash protests violently

7h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

Curfews, block raids, and internet blackouts: Hasina’s last ditch efforts to cling to power

13h | Panorama
The Mymensingh district administration confirmed that Zamindar Shashikant Acharya Chowdhury built the house near Shashi Lodge for his staff. Photo: Collected

The Mymensingh house might not belong to Satyajit Ray's family, but there’s little to celebrate

13h | Panorama
Illustration: TBS

20 years of war, 7.5m tonnes of bombs, 1.3m dead: How the US razed Vietnam to the ground

1d | The Big Picture

More Videos from TBS

Why is the Japanese 'extremely exposed' to foreigners?

Why is the Japanese 'extremely exposed' to foreigners?

10h | Others
NCP’s arrival turns Munshiganj vibrant with festivity

NCP’s arrival turns Munshiganj vibrant with festivity

14h | TBS Today
How did Pakistan shoot down India’s fighter jets?

How did Pakistan shoot down India’s fighter jets?

14h | TBS World
Bangladesh's Lower and Middle Classes Under Pressure from High Prices

Bangladesh's Lower and Middle Classes Under Pressure from High Prices

15h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net