As dengue infections continue to rise in different districts, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has instructed all hospitals across the country to increase the number of beds for dengue patients. Hospitals in the capital have also been asked to make special preparations in view of the situation.

The authorities are particularly considering reopening the field hospital established on the premises of Dhaka Medical College Hospital. In addition, plans are underway to transfer some patients from Dhaka Medical College Hospital to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery to ensure adequate treatment facilities for dengue patients.

A meeting chaired by Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain at the Secretariat last Sunday reviewed the country’s overall dengue situation in detail. Necessary directives were issued to the relevant authorities following the meeting.

Professor Dr Nurul Islam, director of the Hospital Branch of the Directorate General of Health Services, said the meeting instructed hospitals to increase beds for dengue patients. Arrangements will also be made to transfer some patients from Dhaka Medical College Hospital to the Burn Institute. At the same time, authorities are considering reopening the field hospital established at Dhaka Medical.

He said Mugda Medical College Hospital had been instructed to increase its dengue bed capacity further. Instead of Kurmitola General Hospital, Kurmitola Multidisciplinary Hospital has been asked to prepare to provide treatment to dengue patients arriving from outside Dhaka.

“Most of the patients are in Dhaka. So, the directors of hospitals in different parts of the capital have been asked to increase their bed capacity,” Dr Nurul Islam said.

He said government hospitals do not turn away patients even during crises. However, when the number of patients exceeds a hospital’s bed capacity, patients face various difficulties. Hospitals outside Dhaka have therefore also been urged to remain prepared to reduce pressure on facilities in the capital.

According to the Directorate General of Health Services, 90,356 dengue patients had been admitted to hospitals across the country as of October 6 this year, while 281 people had died. Of the deceased, 132 were men and 145 were women.

So far this year, Dhaka Division has recorded 127 dengue-related deaths. In addition, 24 people have died in Barishal Division, 25 in Chattogram, 55 in Khulna, 23 in Mymensingh, 19 in Rajshahi, six in Rangpur and two in Sylhet.