Bangladesh orders all hospitals to treat COVID-19 patients in separate units

The government has ordered all public and private hospitals in Bangladesh to provide treatment to COVID-19 and other patients in separate units.

The health ministry sent out letters to hospitals, medical colleges and clinics to take action in this regard.

Public health experts from the health directorate reviewed the treatment of COVID-19 in different countries and advised treating patients infected with the coronavirus and those suffering from other conditions in different parts of the same hospital, according to the letter.

The novel coronavirus has infected over 36,000 people in Bangladesh and 522 have died until Tuesday, according to the health directorate.

Most of the coronavirus patients are receiving medical care at home. Others have been undergoing treatment in hospitals designated for COVID-19 patients.

But the country's healthcare system has been marred by frequent complaints of non-COVID-19 patients being turned away from various hospitals.

It prompted the health directorate to announce disciplinary measures against doctors failing to treat patients, which were later withdrawn.

All hospitals across the country are now ‘equipped’ to treat all types of patients, said Habibur Rahman Khan, additional secretary at the health ministry.

"Even the developed countries are struggling to treat the growing number of coronavirus patients. Bangladesh is no exception. As a developing country, Bangladesh is doing its best to provide proper treatment to all patients.”