Emergency directives issued for all hospitals nationwide

Ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, the Directorate General of Health Services has issued 10-point emergency directives for all government and private hospitals across the country.

The directives state that all health service institutions must maintain heightened alertness and preparedness from February 10 to February 15.

The instructions were issued on Sunday, February 25, by Dr Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan, director of hospitals and clinics at the Directorate General of Health Services.

According to the directives, medical teams must be formed during the election period, six teams in each city corporation, four at divisional level, three at district level, two at upazila level and one at union level. Team composition will be determined by the respective institution heads or health administrators based on manpower availability and need.

Hospitals have been instructed to appoint additional staff in emergency departments if required and to keep ambulances ready round the clock.

The directives further state that heads of hospitals and health institutions must remain present at their workplaces. If a head is on leave, a competent official must be assigned responsibility and their name, designation and mobile number must be communicated to the health directorate.

Special instructions have also been issued for private hospitals and clinics, requiring emergency departments to remain operational with doctors present at all times during the election period.

Hospitals have been directed to ensure proper primary treatment and appropriate counselling before referring patients and to provide services in accordance with instructions from local government health authorities in case of emergencies.

Emergency departments, inpatient wards, laboratories, cath labs, dialysis centres, CT scan and MRI centres must remain open regularly throughout the election period.

In addition, the health directorate has instructed divisional health offices and civil surgeon offices to operate 24-hour control rooms.