Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has advised all hospitals and clinics nationwide, not to waste NS1 test kits (dengue testing equipment).
DGHS issued a press release signed by Dr Sania Tahmina, director (disease control unit) of DGHS in this regard on Sunday.
Hospitals and clinics across the country are using NS1 test kits for all kinds of patients indiscriminately, thus considering the current situation, and to stop wastage, all concerned are being advised to use this dengue testing equipment only when a doctor recommends it, said the release.
Quoting the stats provided by Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) the release said, a total of 368,200 NS1 test kits have been imported by different importers between July 31 to August 3.
Among those imported, a total of 157,000 kits came to Bangladesh on August 3 alone, and DGDA has also provided no objection certificate (NOC) to importers so that more kits are brought in, to meet the present demand.
From August 6 onwards, raw materials for making NS1 kits domestically are being imported, and from this around 35,000 dengue testing equipment can be sourced to different hospitals, and clinics each day, the release added.
These kits will be provided for free in government hospitals, and sold at a specific rate in private clinics, and hospitals as fixed by the DGDA.
There will be no deficit of dengue testing kits in hospitals, and clinics across the country, the release said, again quoting the DGDA.
