Monitor whether hospitals charge extra for dengue tests: HC to government

The High Court has asked the authorities concerned to monitor whether the hospitals and clinics are charging extra fees from the patients for dengue tests.

The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader passed the order on a suo moto move on Monday (toady) after Deputy Attorney General ABM Abdullah-Al Mahmud Bashar and Supreme Court lawyer Moshtaq Ahmed Chowdhury informed the court that the government had fixed Tk500 for testing dengue fever at the private hospitals.

The court also asked the director-general of the Directorate of Health Services to submit a report in this regard on Thursday. The HC fixed the same date for passing further order on this issue.
The HC, in its order, stated that the government hospitals cannot impose any charge on the dengue patients.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Sunday (yesterday) instructed all private healthcare institutions, including hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres to take maximum Tk500 for each dengue test.

DGHS Director (hospitals and clinics) Dr Aminul Islam issued the emergency circular today, adding that the price related decision will come into effect from July 28 and remain in effect until further announcement.

According to the circular, the new price of Dengue Test: NS1 Antigen test, IgM +IgE or IgM/IgE test is Tk500 (maximum) while CBC test- Tk400 (maximum).

Earlier, the costs of the tests were Tk1, 200- Tk2, 000 for NS1 Antigen test, Tk800- Tk 1,600 for IgG and IgM (together), and Tk1,000 for CBC test.

Source: dailysun