Free dengue tests to roll out at government hospitals

The measure will remain in force until Dec 31

All government hospitals across Bangladesh will offer free Non-Structural Protein 1 (NS1) tests to diagnose dengue.

The facility will remain available until Dec 31.

On Jul 5, the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health said the decision had been taken following approval from the Finance Division.

It directed the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to take the steps to provide free NS1 tests at government hospitals until the end of the year.

The DGHS has been asked to begin the implementation process without delay.

The policy shift completely waives the previous diagnostic fees at public medical centres, where the then government had capped the charge for dengue diagnostic tests at Tk 50 to maintain accessibility amid an alarming spike in infections.

Under the previous pricing structure, private clinical laboratories and healthcare facilities were permitted to charge a maximum of Tk 300 for NS1 and antibody tests, while a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test was priced at Tk 400.

The absolute waiver of testing charges comes as the health authorities put the nation on alert over an accelerating seasonal surge of the Aedes mosquito-borne disease fuelled by wet weather.