Dhaka: The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a comprehensive 16-point directive aimed at ensuring the continuous provision of emergency healthcare services in hospitals throughout the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays. This directive mandates that all government hospitals nationwide keep their emergency departments, labour rooms, emergency surgeries, laboratories, blood banks, CT scan, and MRI services operational 24/7, to cater to the healthcare needs during the festive period.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the DGHS issued the order to ensure the presence of doctors around the clock in emergency departments by deploying additional physicians as necessary. The directive also emphasizes the need to coordinate staff leave before and after Eid to maintain adequate manpower and ensure uninterrupted services. Civil Surgeons are tasked with coordinating essential manpower within districts during the holidays, with communication directed to divisional directors.
The directive further stipulates that emergency lab and X-ray services must remain active in medical college hospitals, specialized hospitals, district hospitals, and upazila health complexes. Specialist doctors should be on-call at the upazila level to provide necessary care. Hospitals are also instructed to ensure a sufficient stock of medicines, IV fluids, chemical reagents, and surgical supplies before the holidays, with responsible staff remaining available locally.
Ambulance services are to be kept operational at all times, and hospitals are to ensure quality food for patients on Eid day while exchanging greetings with them. Additionally, outpatient departments must not remain closed for more than 72 consecutive hours during the holiday period.
For private clinics and hospitals, the directive mandates that emergency and maternity services must remain open under the supervision of registered doctors. They are also required to provide necessary primary treatment and in-transit care before referring patients, with ambulance support for those referred. Any disaster or unexpected incident must be immediately reported to the DGHS control room.