Private hospitals will cover 80pc of dengue treatment costs, says Health Minister
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The health ministry says private hospitals and clinics will bear 80 percent of dengue treatment costs, while services at public hospitals will remain free.
The announcement comes amid renewed preparations for dengue prevention measures.
On Tuesday, after a meeting at the Secretariat on dengue prevention, treatment and guidelines, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said: “The cost of tests and clinical services for dengue patients will be borne 80 percent by private healthcare providers.
“Doctors’ fees have also been made free.”
Patients will only have to pay the remaining 20 percent, including the cost of medicines and food, he added.
According to the minister, public healthcare facilities will provide everything at no cost, and all private hospitals have been ordered to reserve 10 percent of their beds for dengue patients.
Sakhawat said mobile courts would be deployed nationwide as part of a tougher enforcement drive.
Legal action, including fines, would be taken against individuals if mosquito larvae were found in rooftops, yards or surrounding areas due to poor sanitation.
“Special medicines will be used to destroy mosquito larvae, and the relevant authorities have been instructed accordingly.”
He also said awareness campaigns would begin on Saturday across the Dhaka North and South city corporations, alongside initiatives led by the ministry.
On vaccination, he said dengue vaccines were not yet universally approved or fully validated.
“Vaccination will not be rolled out at this stage. Further testing and consultations are required,” he added.
He warned that failure to curb dengue would represent a collective failure, saying success would not come without sacrifices from all sides.
Dengue cases have remained relatively lower so far this year compared with last year’s surge.
No deaths were recorded in March and April. Two deaths were reported in both January and February, while May saw one fatality.
The highest number of dengue deaths in 2025 was recorded in November, when 104 people died.