Most of the general patients across the country and capital Dhaka are getting refused any sort of treatment by government and private hospitals, people allege. Fever, cough and respiratory patients cannot even get a chance to know what has really happened to them, said one Shumi Akter who had earlier been refused by two government hospitals in the capital, and did not know what to do.
Blaming shortages of personal protection equipment (PPE) for health workers and doctors, a large number of hospitals are mercilessly refusing to treat suffering patients, which has become a common scenario throughout the country. 48-year-old kidney patient, Zabed Aktar, needs one dialysis per week. Besides, over the last two days, he is feeling cough and rise of body temperature, but subsequently, hospitals have rejected his treatment.
There are countless stories floating on social media interpreting refusal of treatment at hospitals. According to published news in the media, nearly twenty-five patients died with corona symptoms across the country. However, regarding the refusing of patients by major hospitals for lack of security equipment, hospitals claimed positive efforts to combat coronavirus.
United Hospital Director, Dr Sagufa Anwar said, "Patients are getting in and admitted to our hospital; till now 17 have been tested as suspects by the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in accordance with government protocol.” “Results were negative for everyone. We have also kept two isolation rooms per floor, if needed or if a positive patient is available, they will be taken to these rooms immediately. There is an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ready as well.”
Director Department of Health (Hospital) Dr. Aminul Islam said, "We are trying really hard to bring private hospitals along with government management to work simultaneously in this crisis so that they do not turn back any patient or stop the patient from beig treated. But many are not doing it at all."
“For this, we have arranged another meeting with the leaders of the private hospitals and physicians’ organizations on April 4.” He also said, I would urge the owners of the private institutions to provide adequate personal protective equipment to the doctors, as well as necessary medical personnel working in their respective institutions. If they do not do so, they will be warned again.
Physicians organization, Bangladesh Doctors Foundation (BDF) in a statement on Wednesday, signed by the general secretary of the organization Zakir Sumon said, “if any allegation of non-medical treatment or admission of a patient comes to light against any government-private physician or hospital, legal action will be taken by the concerned authorities.”
He also urged doctors to desist from amateurish behavior in this situation. Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) General Secretary Dr Ehteshamul Haque Chowdhury Dulal said, “We are trying to improve the situation from our space. We are providing safety equipment to hospitals and physicians. Trying to motivate doctors around the hospital. However, the government's directive is not enough in this regard, so the local level administration and health officials, even the hospital authorities, have to activate their own responsibilities.”
Director General (DG) of the Department of Health, Dr Abul Kalam Azad said that the matter had already come to the attention of the Prime Minister. She will hold talks with the doctors on Wednesday, and will direct all doctors to provide necessary services to patients. The number of novel coronavirus cases rose to 56 as two more persons have been infected with the virus in the country. Dr Md Habibur Rahman, director of Management Information System of Directorate General of Health Services confirmed the matter at IEDCR's online briefing on Thursday.
He said some 141 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. Of them, two were detected--one is 30-40 year old and the other is 70-80--with the virus. Bangladesh reported its sixth death from the coronavirus on Wednesday.