The Directorate General of Health Services on Tuesday directed all private hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country to compulsorily admit and treat measles and suspected measles patients.
The directive has come following allegations that several private hospitals refused to admit measles and suspected measles patients.
The DGHS has also instructed private healthcare facilities to establish separate wards or cabins for measles and suspected measles patients to prevent further spread of infection and ensure proper management of cases.
According to the DGHS, nine more patients died from measles-like symptoms in the 24 hours till 8:00am Tuesday.
The latest toll takes the number of suspected measles fatalities to 398.
Of the latest deaths, three each were reported from Dhaka and Sylhet divisions, and one each from Chattogram, Mymensingh and Khulna divisions.
In the same period, two additional confirmed deaths were recorded, both from the Barishal division, raising the total number of confirmed measles deaths to 77, the DGHS said.
During the 24-hour period, 73 new confirmed cases were reported, taking the total number of confirmed cases to 7,929.
In addition, 1,264 new suspected cases were recorded, bringing the cumulative number of suspected cases to 56,586, according to DGHS data.
The health authority further directed healthcare facilities to coordinate with local government health institutions in managing the outbreak.
Citing the Private Medical College and Dental College Act 2021, the DGHS said that private medical college hospitals are required to reserve at least 10 per cent of their beds free of charge for poor patients.
It also said that 50 per cent of those reserved beds must now be allocated for measles and suspected measles patients—for example, a 250-bed hospital must keep at least 12 beds reserved for such patients.
Hospitals have also been instructed to display admission and treatment information prominently at emergency departments and inquiry desks.
The health directorate also directed that only one guardian or visitor would be allowed to stay with each admitted patient.
