Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued 10 emergency directives for all government and private hospitals and healthcare institutions across the country ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum scheduled for February 12.
Under the directives, the health sector has been instructed to remain on special alert and preparedness for six consecutive days, from February 10 to February 15.
The instructions were issued through a notification signed on Monday by DGHS Director Dr Abu Hussain Md Moinul Ahsan.
According to the notification, medical teams must be formed at different administrative levels during the election period, based on the scope of services. Each corporation area will have six medical teams, while four teams will be formed at the divisional level, three at the district level, two at the upazila level, and one at the union level. The heads of the respective institutions or health administrators will determine team members considering the availability and necessity of manpower.
To address potential emergency situations during the election period, DGHS has directed hospitals to deploy additional manpower in their emergency departments. All government and private healthcare institutions have also been instructed to keep ambulances ready round the clock.
The directorate has further stated that no healthcare institution may remain closed for more than 72 consecutive hours. Emergency departments, inpatient wards, laboratories, Cath labs, dialysis units, CT scan centers, and MRI centers must remain operational on a regular basis.
For private hospitals and clinics, the directives require ensuring the round-the-clock presence of doctors and keeping emergency departments functional at all times. In cases where patient referral becomes necessary, primary treatment and proper counseling must be ensured before making the referral. Private institutions have also been requested to provide logistic and manpower support to government authorities if needed.
The directives also required divisional health offices and civil surgeon offices to keep 24-hour control rooms operational throughout the election period.