The government is going to redistribute unused medical equipment from Covid-19 treatment centres with few patients, to facilities where they are in greater demand, according to Health Secretary Md Abdul Mannan.
The health secretary said this after visiting Bashundhara Covid-19 Hospital and the DNCC Isolation Centre at Mohakhali on Sunday afternoon.
He said: “Instead of leaving medical equipment abandoned at Covid-19 dedicated centres, the equipment will be sent to other facilities across the country where they are needed.”
There are only 23 patients at the Basundhara Covid-19 hospital, he added.
According to DGHS, only 10 patients are undergoing treatment at the Bashundhara Covid-19 Hospital, although the hospital has facilities for 2,013 patients. The DNCC Isolation centre, which is not being used, has facilities for 2,390 patients although not fully equipped.
One of the officials from the admin section of DGHS, last week told Dhaka Tribune, that the highest number of patients on a single day at the Basundhara Covid-19 hospital last month was 37. About 400 healthcare professionals are working at the hospital.
DGHS waiting on Health Ministry
The DGHS is awaiting the decisions of the Health Ministry on reducing the number of Covid-19 hospitals and deploying the health care professionals where they are needed most.
A former director of DGHS, in July told Dhaka Tribune he had already notified the ministry of the matter and a decision could be made in August. However, sources said the decision was delayed due to several changes at the DGHS in the month.
The hospitals and clinics unit of DGHS said Covid-19 dedicated hospitals currently include Holy Family Hospital, Dhaka Mahanagar Hospital, Lalkuthi Ma o Shishu Kalyan Kendro, Bashundhara Covid Hospital, Infectious Disease Hospital at Mohakhali, Bangladesh Institute of Tropical and Infectious Diseases (BITID), Chittagong, Chittagong Railway Hospital, Field Hospital, Chittagong, and four others, both in Dhaka and Chittagong.
Most of the hospitals have few patients. Some were unable to complete their ICUs before the period of peak Covid-19 transmission in the country ended.
Contacted, Farid Hossain Miah, director of the unit, confirmed that they had recently sent another letter on suspending the operations of some of the dedicated Covid-19 hospitals.
Regarding the equipment at the hospitals, he said they have taken the matter under consideration and are looking for a way to reuse the resources properly.
Vaccine human trial discussions ongoing with several companies
Health Secretary Md Abdul Mannan said discussions with many countries and companies that want to conduct human trials in Bangladesh are ongoing.
He said permission has already been given to China and some other companies are in the pipeline.
“If they apply for permission, decisions will be taken after fruitful discussion,” he added.