Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Sunday said the process of recruiting of 5,000 new medical technologists is underway, with the aim of strengthening the medical sector in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The minister made the remark while inaugurating the 2,000-bed isolation unit for Covid-19 patients at Bashundhara International Convention Centre (ICCB).
Mentioning that the new hospital is the second largest for coronavirus treatment in the country, he said the government was able to prepare it within just 20 days.
“The hospital has 2,013 isolation beds. Among them, oxygen cylinders have been attached to 71 beds. It also has at least 400 more portable oxygen cylinders,” said the minister.
2,000-bed isolation unit for Covid-19 patients at Bashundhara International Convention Centre (ICCB) | Focus BanglaPlasma therapy for coronavirus treatment is also underway. Remdesivir, a failed Ebola treatment drug that has shown promise in coronavirus treatment, is also being produced in the country. The drug is being stockpiled by government, said Zahid Maleque.
The minister also said a letter has been sent to all government and private hospitals, making it compulsory to treat general patients who visit Non-Covid Hospitals.
Furthermore, Zahid Maleque urged the people not to hide any Covid-19 symptoms.
Regarding the government’s decision to ease the lockdown, the minister said the government had imposed a lockdown when there was an emergency, and it has been relaxed while keeping safety measures in place after it became necessary to do so. The government is taking the decision after considering all stakeholders.
“If people follow health rules properly, there will be relief from the economic crisis as well as coronavirus,” he added.
The Health Minister also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her timely decisions.