DHAKA, March 15, 2026 (BSS) - The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued 16 directives aimed at ensuring uninterrupted emergency healthcare services at hospitals across the country during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

Besides, emergency departments, labor rooms, emergency surgeries, laboratories, blood banks, CT scans and MRIs in all government hospitals in the country have been asked to remain open around the clock.

These directives were issued today in an office order signed by the Director (Hospitals and Clinics) of the DGHS Dr Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan.

The directives are: 

(1) The presence of doctors around the clock should be ensured by engaging additional doctors as needed in the emergency department. 

(2) The emergency department and labor room, emergency OT, lab, blood bank, CT scan and MRI should remain open around the clock. 

(3) To ensure adequate manpower and medical services at the workplace, manpower can be given leave in phases by coordinating before and after Eid.

(4) The head of the institution may grant leave by prioritizing uninterrupted emergency medical activities and public interest. 

(5) During the Eid holidays, essential manpower can be coordinated within the district by informing the Civil Surgeon and Divisional Director.

(6) The heads of the internal medicine units of the hospitals will supervise their departmental activities on a daily basis. Emergency lab and X-ray services should be kept open round the clock in the medical college hospital, specialized hospital, district headquarters hospital and upazila health complex. On-call services of specialist doctors should be kept open at the Upazila level.

(7) Before the start of the holiday, adequate stock of medicines, IV fluids, chemical reagents, surgical materials should be kept and arrangements should be made for their immediate supply. In this case, the storekeeper or the staff assigned responsibility during the holiday must stay in their own district and upazila. 

(8) Ambulance service should be kept operational round the clock. 

(9) Advance notice should be given to the local administration and law enforcement agencies for the security of the hospital during the holiday.

(10) Fire safety precautions should be taken in all health care institutions during the holidays. 

(11) The heads of institutions and heads of various departments should regularly communicate with the officers and employees providing services during the holidays and exchange greetings on the day of Eid. 

(12) If the head of the institution takes leave, he must assign someone to take responsibility as per the rules and the officer taking responsibility should perform all the responsibilities properly. The name and mobile number of the person assigned the responsibility should be informed to the higher authorities.

(13) The head of the institution will supervise the serving of high-quality food to the patients on Eid and exchange greetings with the patients. 

(14) The outpatient department cannot be closed for more than 72 hours at a time. Based on this, the heads of the institutions will take decisions in their respective institutions. 

(15) (a) Private clinics/hospitals should keep the emergency and maternity departments open round the clock under a registered doctor. 

(b) Before referring any patient, necessary first aid and en route treatment should be ensured. 

(c) Necessary cooperation should be provided to the referred patients so that they get an ambulance. 

(16) The control room of the Directorate General of Health Services should be informed immediately about any disaster or unexpected accident.