Dengue patients will not be discharged until fully recovered: Health Minister
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has said that dengue patients admitted to hospitals will not be discharged until they have made a full recovery.
He said the government has been taking various preparatory measures over the past two months to tackle the dengue situation. Training on dengue case management has been arranged for doctors at upazila hospitals through civil surgeons.
"No dengue patient will be discharged from the hospital until they are fully recovered. Security measures have also been strengthened to ensure that patients do not leave the hospital before completing their treatment," he said.
The minister made these remarks on Sunday (July 5) at a preparatory meeting held ahead of the inauguration of the 500-bed second unit of the National Institute of Neurosciences Hospital in the capital.
The Health Minister said that decentralization of healthcare remains one of the government's key priorities. "Until healthcare services are decentralized, it will not be possible to ensure quality healthcare at the doorsteps of people across the country.
On August 15, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will inaugurate this new unit of the National Institute of Neurosciences Hospital. I believe that if the Prime Minister visits the hospital, he will take the necessary initiatives for its further development," he said.
The minister also spoke about the ongoing measles situation, saying that it has now been brought largely under control through the collective efforts of all stakeholders. He noted that a nationwide immunization campaign has already been completed. "Measles cannot be completely eliminated primarily because of malnutrition among children," he added.
Sakhawat Hossain further said that the current situation arose due to shortcomings in the distribution of Vitamin A capsules and immunization programs during the previous four years under what he described as the "fascist regime."
Meanwhile, State Minister for Health Dr. M. A. Muhit said that the government is giving the highest priority to the health sector.
"Decentralization of healthcare is essential to ensure equal access to health services for all citizens. We aim to establish Neuroscience Institutes in at least four older divisional cities. In that regard, this hospital has a crucial role to play. Unless it produces an adequate number of specialist physicians, it will not be possible to operate those institutes effectively," he said.