Govt teams to check overcharging for dengue screening

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has formed ten teams to monitor whether private hospitals and clinics are overcharging people for dengue screening in Dhaka.    

The teams that started working on Monday morning will inspect 40 to 50 medical facilities per day.

“The teams will also inspect whether private hospitals have designated dengue concern,” said Aminul Hasan, head of the monitoring teams.

Hasan, also director (Hospitals and Clinic) at the DGHS, said: “It will be nothing but inviting trouble if anybody overcharges the patients violating the government fixed rates.”  

The government on July 28 fixed the dengue test fees Tk 1,400. Previously, private clinics were charging more than Tk 5,000 for the four required medical tests to detect dengue. 

The DGHS would conduct mobile courts against private hospitals flouting the government order, said Hasan.     

Dengue in 50 districts 

The number of dengue-infected people outside Dhaka has skyrocketed with a report of 672 new cases within the last 24 hours till July 29. 

Prevalence of the virus has been found in 50 districts, taking the number patients to 1,283.     

Among them, currently 531 are receiving treatment at government and private medical facilities.       

Earlier on Monday, Controller (Disease Control) of the DGHS Dr Sanya Tahmina held a press conference to update the media about the mosquito-borne disease.   

She expressed concern as the disease is spreading outside the capital.

“Around 90 percent patients outside Dhaka reported that they were infected while in the capital,” she said adding: “The health directorate is on alert and necessary steps have been taken at district levels.”

“DGHS has sent dengue testing kits to the districts. Alongside, awareness programmes have been taken up,” she said. 

Dengue detection cells at port of entries 

The government has set up dengue detection cells at sea, air and land ports, Dr Tahmina told the reporters. Medical personnel with the necessary kits have been kept standby at the points.  

“People coming or leaving the country will have to go through check-ups, if requires,” she added.      

Those cells will also distribute awareness leaflets to people entering the country.     

Daylong awareness programme in Dhaka 

The DGHS will conduct a daylong awareness programme in the capital on Thursday. 

On that day, medical students led by their teachers will visit educational institutions in the capital.

New 1,096 cases in 24 hours   

This year 3,847 dengue patients have so far been hospitalised at government and private hospitals across the country, according to the latest update by the government. 

The statistics released on Monday said the total number of dengue patients is 13,637. Some 1,096 people were diagnosed with the virus in the last 24 hours.

According to the DGHS, eight persons have so far died of dengue this year. However, media reports put the number at over 40.