Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Tuesday instructed private hospitals to provide an 80 per cent discount on the treatment costs of dengue patients and to maintain 10 per cent of their beds vacant.
The minister announced these decisions during a meeting held at Secretariat with the owners of public and private hospitals and diagnostic centres to discuss dengue containment.
“Within the next three days, you must provide an account of how many beds are available in your hospitals and the quantity of fluid stocks maintained to fight dengue,” the health minister said.
Owners of private medical facilities expressed their agreement with the government’s decisions during the meeting.
Sakhawat noted that four individuals have been infected with dengue so far. Emphasising that the situation is a “national problem,” he remarked that it is not just for the government to handle, but for everyone to come forward.
To bolster prevention efforts, a three-month awareness programme will commence nationwide starting this Saturday.
Additionally, the minister mentioned that doctors will be provided with training on dengue protocols to ensure the disease is treated correctly.
Simultaneously, City Corporations will work to ensure that every home and institution within their areas remains free of mosquito breeding grounds.
