Swapan Kumar Singh :
Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued a set of 10-point emergency directives for all government and private hospitals across the country, instructing them to keep emergency departments operational round-the-clock during the election period.
According to the directives, 24-hour control rooms will also remain operational nationwide to ensure prompt coordination and emergency response during the election.
The instructions will remain in force from February 10 to February 15, during which all healthcare facilities have been asked to maintain heightened alertness and preparedness.
The directives were issued on Sunday by Dr Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan, Director (Hospitals and Clinics) of the DGHS.
As per the guidelines, medical teams must be formed at different administrative levels—six teams in each city corporation, four at divisional level, three at district level, two at upazila level, and one at union level. The composition of each team will be determined by the respective institution heads or health administrators based on manpower availability and local requirements.
Hospitals have also been instructed to deploy additional manpower in emergency departments if necessary and ensure that ambulances remain on standby at all times.
The directives further state that heads of hospitals and healthcare institutions must remain present at their workplaces during the election period. If an institution head is on leave for any reason, a competent official must be assigned in charge, and their name, designation, and mobile number must be communicated to the DGHS.
Special instructions have also been issued for private hospitals and clinics, requiring them to keep emergency services operational with the round-the-clock presence of physicians. In cases where patients need to be referred, hospitals must ensure proper primary treatment and appropriate counselling before referral.
In the event of any emergency situation, healthcare services must be provided in accordance with the instructions of the local government health authorities.
Additionally, hospitals have been directed to keep emergency units, inpatient departments, laboratories, cath labs, dialysis centres, CT scan and MRI facilities operational on a regular basis throughout the election period.
The DGHS has also instructed divisional health offices and civil surgeon offices to keep their control rooms open 24 hours a day to facilitate coordination and rapid response.
