Health Minister flags irregularities in dengue tests

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has expressed anger over collecting blood samples from dengue patients at Mugda Medical College Hospital (MMCH) and taking them to outside facilities for diagnostic tests.

During a surprise inspection at MMCH on Friday, the minister examined the documents of 15-20 patients and took photocopies of them. He said he found that all the diagnostic tests listed in the documents had been conducted outside the hospital.

The minister also said he had seen the names of people allegedly involved in the irregularities in a video circulating on social media.

“We will see what action needs to be taken later. There will be no irregularities. Either I will remain, or the irregularities will remain-one of the two,” the minister said.

He said it was not possible to eliminate all irregularities in the country’s health sector in a single day. However, he said he would take firm action whenever an irregularity came to his attention.

Referring to allegations that outsiders collect blood samples from dengue patients at the hospital and take them elsewhere for testing, the minister said the government was spending public money on healthcare, but patients were not receiving the intended benefits at the hospital. He also held the hospital authorities responsible for the situation.

The minister made the surprise visit after various reports of poor services and irregularities at MMCH on social media.

On the use of mosquito nets by dengue patients, the minister said he had seen nets being used at hospitals in different parts of the country, but not at MMCH and some other hospitals.

"Even if patients do not want to use them, they must be made to do so. Otherwise, other patients may also become infected," he said, adding that the matter would be strictly monitored from Friday-onward.

The minister said the government has been focusing more on dengue prevention than treatment for the last three months. Cleanliness drives are being conducted in coordination with city corporations, municipalities, deputy commissioners, upazila nirbahi officers, civil surgeons and doctors, he added.

Pointing to stagnant water in potholes and other places across the country, he said mosquito larvae were breeding there. Tablets were being used to destroy the larvae, while city corporations had been spraying insecticides to control mosquitoes for the past three months. As a result, he said, the mosquito menace had started somewhat later this year.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services' (DGHS) regular dengue report, two more people died of dengue in the last 24 hours, while another 790 patients were hospitalised.

In a notification issued on Friday, DGHS said one person died in Chattogram Division outside the city corporation area and another in Dhaka North City Corporation during the last 24 hours. The deceased were a man and a woman.

So far this year, 141 people have died of dengue across the country.

 DGHS also said 49,220 dengue patients had been hospitalised so far this year. Currently, 3,434 patients are receiving treatment in hospitals, while 45,645 patients have been discharged.