The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has extended the Tk50 dengue testing fee at government hospitals for another six months, aiming to ensure accessible diagnosis amid a nationwide surge in dengue cases.
As per a DGHS notice issued yesterday, the fee for NS1, IgG, and IgM tests – previously valid until 30 June – will now remain in effect until 31 December 2025, reports The Business Standard.
Meanwhile, DGHS has set fixed rates for dengue tests at private hospitals: Tk300 each for NS1 and IgG/IgM, and Tk400 for CBC. The health directorate warned that any private institution found overcharging or violating these directives will face regulatory action.
The rapid spike in cases has overwhelmed the healthcare system in Barguna, with many patients being forced to share beds.
Hospital authorities noted that delays in seeking medical care are contributing to the deterioration of patients' conditions.
To combat the worsening dengue outbreak, the DGHS has directed the Barishal divisional health director to dispatch four specialist doctors and two ambulances to Barguna Sadar Hospital.
According to DGHS data, Barishal division recorded the highest number of hospital admissions in the last 24 hours, with 149 dengue patients – 77 of them from Barguna.
So far this year, a total of 2,746 dengue patients have received treatment at hospitals in Barguna, with 2,518 patients already discharged after recovery.
To address the critical situation, DGHS has also instructed that four senior specialists in medicine be sent from Sher-e-Bangla Medical College in Barishal to Barguna within two working days.
In addition, large-scale awareness campaigns have been instructed to raise public alertness about the disease and prompt early treatment.
In the past 24 hours, 429 more people have been hospitalised with dengue in Bangladesh — the highest single-day tally this year. With these new cases, the total number of hospitalised dengue patients in 2025 has risen to 10,296, of whom 42 have died.
More than half of this year's hospitalisations – 5,951 cases – occurred in June alone, with 19 deaths reported during the month.
Bd-pratidin English/TR
