Govt allows Evercare, Square and United to run COVID-19 tests on inpatients

The government has granted permission to three private hospitals in Dhaka to test inpatients with COVID-19 symptoms for the infection amid a surge in cases and deaths in Bangladesh, according to the health directorate.

Evercare, Square and United are the latest private facilities to be given the greenlight after US-Bangla Medical College Hospital, which began testing samples on Wednesday.

Although US-Bangla Medical College can examine samples of outpatients, the three hospitals in Dhaka are only allowed to test those of patients who are already admitted there, DGHS Additional Director General Nasima Sultana said.

"It must be kept in mind that the three hospitals can only test the samples of inpatients for COVID-19. We haven't yet given them permission to test samples of outpatients as it could cause problems with the follow-ups," she said.

Nasima said the DGHS would consider if any hospital outside Dhaka applies for permission to run coronavirus test upon inspection of their facilities.

The government also granted the four private hospitals permission to continue treatment of the patients who test positive for COVID-19, she said.

The fee for the test is Tk 3,500 in line with the rates fixed by the government for the purchase of kits and other costs. The government will supply the testing kits and other equipment.

The four hospitals are among a total of 29 facilities that conduct coronavirus test in Bangladesh.

The 25 other facilities conduct the test for free under government supervision.

The test is also free for outpatients of the US-Bangla hospital.

Bangladesh registered eight more deaths from the novel coronavirus in the 24 hours to 8am Wednesday, bringing the body count to 163.

The tally of COVID-19 infections surged to 7,103 after another 641 people, in a single-day record jump, tested positive in the same period, Nasima said on Wednesday.