Mugda Hospital refuses admission of Covid-19 patient
The patient requested the hospital admit him as he cannot self-isolate in his studio apartment with his children and ailing mother-in-law
Dhaka's Mugda General Hospital denied a coronavirus patient admission on Tuesday afternoon.
The 45-year-old patient lives in the city's Jurain area and drives a CNG-run autorickshaw. He was sent back home after being given some medicine. He said he requested the hospital authorities admit him as he cannot afford to self-quarantine at his tiny apartment with four family members.
The man said he had been suffering from fever and cough for a week and was tested at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University coronavirus lab Monday.
His report showed he was positive for the virus on Tuesday morning. A doctor familiar with the autorickshaw driver advised him to get himself admitted to the Mugda hospital — a 500-bed medical facility designated for novel coronavirus patients.
"Doctors at the hospital did not admit me – saying my infection was mild. They prescribed me a few medicines and told me to stay in self-isolation at home," the patient told The Business Standard over the phone.
After being denied admission by the hospital, the man then returned home by rickshaw. Meanwhile, police locked down his residence and he is staying at his rented apartment.
The CNG driver lives in a studio apartment with his two sons, a daughter, and mother-in-law who is a cancer patient.
"Now I fear about my offspring and ailing mother-in-law as I could infect them," said the CNG driver.
The man said he requested the hospital authorities admit him as he has no option to stay in self-isolation at his apartment.
While contacted, Mugda General Hospital Director Dr Sadiqul Islam told The Business Standard that his hospital was admitting coronavirus patients.
"However, for a patient to be admitted, the individual must fulfil the requirements. We are prioritising critical patients while patients with mild infections are being told to get treatment at home. However, we will admit patients who have issues staying in self-isolation at home," added the hospital director.
