The issue of healthcare professionals’ safety amid the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak has become the centre of debate as health workers, in at least three hospitals, have already announced their decision to refrain from providing treatment citing their need for own safety.
Healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and interns, claimed that they have been putting their own lives at risk while trying to identify and treat those infected with coronavirus, as necessary equipment to ensure their own safety from the deadly virus has not yet been provided.
Earlier on Sunday, interns at Khulna Medical College Hospital (KMCH) went on a work abstain to press home their demand to be provided with necessary personal protective equipment (PPE).
Similarly, medical intern doctors of Sir Salimullah Medical College (Mitford Hospital) Dental Unit, on Saturday refrained from providing services after the hospital authorities issued a notice asking its doctors and staff to collect masks on their own to protect themselves from coronavirus.
Earlier on March 19, intern doctors of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital went on strike for 3.5 hours, demanding measures to ensure their safety at work.
They fear that their risk of getting infected has been going up as they do not have adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) — such as masks, gloves, and gowns — and infected patients can walk into the hospital at any moment and the medical staff can get infected without knowing.
Reports sent by Dhaka Tribune correspondents also found that health professionals at several government hospitals across Bangladesh have been maintaining their safety using their own protection equipment amid the high risk of contagion.
In such a situation, the High Court on Sunday ordered authorities concerned to collect and supply personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals in all hospitals across the country.
DGHS PPE inventory (in numbers)
PPE | Total collected | Distributed | In stock |
Examination Gloves | 248,000 | 95,500 | 152,500 |
Hexisol | 40,080 | 19,931 | 20,149 |
Non Woven Face Mask | 124,182 | 66,743 | 57,439 |
Personal Protection Mask | 42,900 | NA | 42,900 |
Mop Cap | 50,000 | 42,100 | 7,900 |
Personal Protection Cap | 5,000 |
| 5,000 |
Non Woven Shoe Cover | 50,000 | 43,600 | 6,400 |
Personal Protection Shoe Cover | 6,000 | NA | 6,000 |
Protective Cover all & Surgical Face Mask | 21,082 | 14,943 | 6,139 |
Combo Surgical Protection Dress | 391,082 | 240,000 | 151,082 |
Gown | 16,000 | 5,230 | 10,770 |
Eye Protector Safety Goggles Glass | 20,000 | 7,470 | 12,530 |
Source: Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD), DGHS
Is it justified?
In conversation with Dhaka Tribune, eminent media personality and adviser to Foundation for Doctors’ Safety and Rights Dr Abdun Noor Tushar said: “There are risks for healthcare professionals while treating patients because they do not know who is coronavirus positive and not.
“On the other hand, forcing them to serve without providing proper safety equipment will not be justified. If the government fails to ensure their safety, these doctors may put themselves in home quarantine without providing medical treatment,” he added.
Do we have enough in stock?
Sources at Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) claimed that they have enough stock of personal protective equipment for healthcare professionals and the materials were being distributed in districts in phases.
Data compiled by Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD) of DGHS shows 95,500 examination gloves were distributed while there were 152,500 in stock, 19,931 Hexisol (an alcohol-based hand rub) bottles distributed and 20,149 in stock, 66,743 non-woven face masks distributed and 57,349 in stock, 42,100 mop caps distributed and 7,900 currently in stock.
At the same time, 43,600 non-woven shoe covers were sent to hospitals while 6,400 kept in stock, 14,943 protective coverall & surgical face masks were distributed and 6,139 in stock, 240,000 combo surgical protection dress distributed and 151,082 in stock, 5,230 gowns distributed and 10,770 in stock, and 7,470 safety goggles distributed and 12,530 are now in stock, the data shows.
The directorate, however, did not distributed any of the 5,000 personal protection caps, 6,000 personal protection shoe cover and 42,900 personal protection masks now kept in stock.
DGHS Director General Abul Kalam Azad said the distribution of PPE begins only after a hospital applies for it.
The DG, however, also added that they were in process of bringing one million PPE, including masks and gloves, to ensure the safety of healthcare personnel across the country.
Officials at DGHS confirmed that orders have been placed to bring 200,000 of the PPEs as immediate basis.