Private hospitals ordered to reserve 10% beds for free dengue care, up to 80% discount on tests

The government has directed private hospitals across the country to reserve at least 10% of their beds for dengue patients and provide free treatment in those beds, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said today (2 June).

"Under the directive, private hospitals must waive doctors' consultation fees for dengue patients admitted in these beds. Patients will only need to pay for medicines and meals," the minister said after a meeting on dengue prevention and preparedness.

In a 250-bed hospital, for example, 25 beds must be allocated free of cost for dengue treatment.

The decision aligns with the Private Medical College and Dental College Act-2022, which requires at least 10% of beds in private medical college hospitals to be reserved free for poor patients. The ministry has now designated those beds specifically for dengue cases.

Private hospitals have also been instructed to offer up to 80% discounts on diagnostic tests for dengue patients.

The minister directed all private hospitals to submit detailed information to the ministry within three days. This includes the number of beds allocated for dengue patients, stocks of saline and essential fluids, and future procurement plans.

On dengue vaccination, the minister said although dengue vaccines are being used in some countries, they have yet to gain universal acceptance.

He added that Bangladesh will not introduce a dengue vaccination programme immediately without consulting international organisations and experts. "We will hold discussions with the World Health Organization, Unicef, and other relevant bodies before taking any decision in this regard," he said.

Stronger coordination urged

The health minister urged stronger coordination among media, hospitals and local administrations to raise awareness and prevent outbreaks. 

He also urged television channels to air dengue awareness messages during programme breaks, while directing city corporations to intensify mosquito control drives, particularly in abandoned toilets and waterlogged areas.

The minister warned that punitive action, including mobile court drives, would be taken against those failing to maintain cleanliness and allowing mosquito breeding.

"Dengue prevention is not the government's responsibility alone; it is a collective effort," he said, comparing it to the Covid-19 response and calling for joint action by all stakeholders.

The government will also directly contact patients to verify whether hospitals are providing the announced services.

Awareness campaign from Saturday

A nationwide awareness campaign will begin, with rallies set for 10:00am on 6 June across Dhaka North and South city corporations, all divisional headquarters, and district towns. 

The three-month campaign will include public announcements, media advertisements, community meetings and courtyard gatherings.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh recorded a sharp rise in dengue cases in the last 24 hours, with 77 new hospital admissions. So far this year, the country has recorded 3,384 dengue cases and six deaths.