75pc death from dengue occurred in private hospitals

Despite having the smaller number of dengue patients, private hospitals and clinics in the capital have witnessed more incidents of death from the mosquito-borne disease.

So far, the health department has confirmed the death of 52 people from dengue fatalities. Of them, some 39 or 75 percent died while undergoing treatment in private hospitals.

Besides, the number of deaths under review is also higher in the hospitals. Some 81 out of 141 deaths, which are under the assessment of the death review committee, occurred in private hospitals.

The remaining 60 cases happened in government hospitals.

The reason behind more deaths in private hospitals either could be the poor management of critical patients or the lack of trained physicians, public health expert Prof Mahmudur Rahman, also former director of Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), told The Business Standard.

Usually, there are more trained doctors in government hospitals and they provide treatment as per guidelines meant for the dengue treatment.

The government needs an investigation to find out the reason why more dengue patients are dying in private hospitals and clinics, ex-president of Bangladesh Medical Association.

Of the total 39 deaths, 10 persons died in Square Hospital, five in United Hospital, four in Asgar Ali Hospital, three each in BRB Hospital, Ibn Sina Hospital, Dhanmondi and Universal Medical College and the rest in other non-government hospitals, according to the health directorate.   

Some 21, 658 dengue infected patients are now undergoing treatment in 12 government and self-directed hospitals in the capital while 16,658 are getting treatment from 30 private hospitals and clinics.

“A patient goes to more than one hospital. So, if one dies in a particular hospital, it does not necessarily mean the problem lies with that hospital,” said Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, director of IEDCR.

Private hospitals have also been provided with the dengue treatment guidelines. And doctors of the hospitals were rendered training as well, she added.

So far this year, a total of 64,765 dengue patients have been admitted to different hospitals across the country.  Of them, some 59,030 returned home after treatment. Some 5,562 others are currently undergoing treatment.

In last 24 hours, some 1,251 patients have been admitted to hospitals with dengue infection.