Free dengue treatment, 80% test discount at private hospitals

The government has announced free treatment services for dengue patients at designated beds in private hospitals and medical colleges, while directing healthcare providers to absorb 80% of diagnostic testing costs as part of a nationwide effort to reduce the financial burden on patients ahead of the dengue season.

Speaking after a meeting with owners and representatives of private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain said private medical colleges and hospitals must reserve at least 10% of their beds for dengue patients.

Patients admitted to these designated beds will receive hospital accommodation, nursing care and physician services free of charge. They will only be required to cover the costs of medicines and meals, he said.

The minister also announced that hospitals will have to bear 80% of the cost of dengue-related diagnostic tests, including blood tests and platelet monitoring, leaving patients to pay the remaining 20%.

To prevent shortages during the peak dengue season, the government has already secured 100,000 bags of intravenous fluids and instructed both public and private hospitals to maintain adequate saline stocks.

Hospitals have been given three days to submit details on the number of dengue beds they have reserved, current saline inventories and plans to address any potential shortages.

The government will also intensify mosquito-control efforts, including the use of larvicide tablets in drains, stagnant water bodies and other breeding grounds. Mobile courts will be deployed nationwide, and individuals or institutions found allowing mosquito breeding sites on their premises may face fines and legal action.

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Sakhawat said a three-month nationwide dengue awareness and cleanliness campaign will begin on Saturday, involving local government bodies, educational institutions and community organisations.

Emphasising that dengue prevention is a shared responsibility, the minister urged citizens to remain vigilant and actively participate in eliminating mosquito breeding sites.