The government has announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening Bangladesh’s response to dengue, including a directive requiring private hospitals to allocate a portion of their facilities for free treatment of infected patients.
Speaking after a high-level meeting on dengue prevention and preparedness on Tuesday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said all private hospitals must reserve at least 10 per cent of their beds for dengue patients. Under the directive, consultation fees charged by doctors will be waived for these patients, while they will only need to cover the costs of medicines and meals.
In addition, private healthcare facilities have been instructed to provide substantial concessions on dengue-related diagnostic tests, with discounts of up to 80 per cent to reduce the financial burden on affected families.
To ensure adequate preparedness, hospitals have been asked to submit detailed reports to the Health Ministry within three days. The information will include the number of beds designated for dengue patients, existing stocks of saline and other essential medical supplies, and future procurement plans.
The minister said the government is also closely examining the issue of dengue vaccination. While several countries have introduced dengue vaccines, Bangladesh will not move forward with a nationwide vaccination programme until consultations are completed with international health experts and organisations, including the World Health Organisation and UNICEF.
Highlighting the importance of public participation, Sakhawat Husain urged media outlets to intensify awareness campaigns and called on television channels to regularly broadcast dengue prevention messages. He also requested city corporations to strengthen efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, particularly in abandoned structures and waterlogged areas.
Warning of strict action against negligence, the minister said mobile courts could be deployed against individuals or establishments that fail to maintain cleanliness and contribute to mosquito breeding.
The government plans to monitor compliance by directly contacting patients to verify whether hospitals are providing the announced services. A nationwide dengue awareness campaign will begin on Saturday, featuring rallies, public announcements, community meetings and outreach programmes across Dhaka, divisional headquarters and district towns.
The latest measures come as dengue infections continue to rise. Bangladesh recorded one additional dengue-related death and 110 new hospital admissions in the past 24 hours till Tuesday noon, prompting authorities to intensify preparedness efforts ahead of the peak transmission season.
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