Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain spoke to journalists today after holding a meeting on dengue prevention, treatment, and clinical guidelines at the Health Ministry conference room. Photo: PID

DHAKA, June 2, 2026 (BSS) - Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. 
Sakhawat Hossain today urged private hospitals across the country to provide 
up to 80 percent discounts on diagnostic tests for dengue patients to reduce 
their treatment costs during the mosquito-borne disease season.

"We want private hospitals to offer up to an 80 percent discount on various 
tests for dengue patients. Discussions are also underway with the concerned 
authorities regarding waiving doctors' consultation fees and extending other 
forms of support," he told journalists after a meeting on dengue prevention, 
treatment and clinical guidelines at the Health Ministry conference room at 
the Secretariat here this afternoon.

Sakhawat Hossain said the government had already discussed the issue with 
private hospital authorities as part of efforts to make dengue treatment more 
affordable.

"If a patient's diagnostic tests cost Taka 10,000, a discount of up to Taka 
8,000 is being considered," he said, adding that treatment for complicated 
cases, including hemorrhagic dengue, would be determined according to 
physicians' recommendations. 

Sakhawat said all private hospitals would be asked to keep at least 10 
percent of their beds vacant for dengue patients. Patients would only have to 
bear the cost of medicines and food while doctors' consultation fees for 
dengue treatment should be fully waived.

Highlighting the government's early preparedness, the minister said 
initiatives were being taken to lower treatment costs through discounted 
diagnostic services and to stop the use of medicines that could increase 
health risks for dengue patients.

He said the government had launched advance planning for mosquito control and 
healthcare management before the onset of the dengue season, drawing lessons 
from previous public health challenges.

The minister noted that although experts had repeatedly stressed the need for 
regular "death reviews" of dengue-related fatalities over the past several 
years, such analyses had not been conducted to the desired extent.

"We will enhance capacity and undertake initiatives to ensure accurate and 
regular analysis of dengue-related deaths," he said.

Sakhawat said regular virtual meetings were being held with divisional 
commissioners, divisional directors, city corporations and district 
administrations across the country. Coordination meetings would also be 
organised at the upazila level through civil surgeons.

Professional organisations had already begun training programmes for 
physicians at district and upazila levels to strengthen dengue management, he 
added.

Calling upon private hospitals to remain prepared, the minister said they 
must maintain adequate stocks of saline and other essential medical supplies 
during the dengue season.

He said every hospital had been asked to submit information within the next 
three days regarding their total bed capacity, the number of beds allocated 
for dengue patients and the volume of saline stocks available.

Replying to a question about the effectiveness of insecticides used in 
mosquito control, the minister said a separate meeting had been held on the 
issue and laboratory tests confirmed the effectiveness of the insecticides 
currently in use.

To strengthen public awareness against dengue, he announced a nationwide 
special campaign beginning next Saturday.

As part of the programme, awareness rallies will be held simultaneously in 
Dhaka North and South City Corporations as well as in all divisions and 
districts across the country.

The campaign will also include public announcements, awareness drives, 
courtyard meetings, community gatherings and cultural programmes aimed at 
increasing public participation in dengue prevention efforts.