Emergency units, measles wards must remain operational during Eid holidays: DGHS

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has directed
all government hospitals to keep emergency departments, measles wards and other
critical healthcare services operational throughout the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha
holidays.
In an 18-point directive issued
today (19 May), the health directorate instructed hospitals to ensure
uninterrupted healthcare services from 25 to 31 May during the Eid break.
The notice, signed by Dr Md Moinul
Ahsan, director of the hospital and clinic branch of DGHS, said emergency
departments, labour rooms, emergency operation theatres, laboratories, CT scan
and MRI services must remain operational round the clock.
Hospitals have also been asked to deploy additional doctors in emergency
departments if necessary to ensure continuous physician presence.
The directive further instructed
divisional and district-level hospitals to ensure adequate doctors and
healthcare workers in paediatric wards and measles isolation wards.
Specialist doctors have been
directed to conduct ward rounds twice daily, including on holidays.
To maintain sufficient manpower and
healthcare services, hospitals may coordinate staff leave schedules before and after
Eid, according to the directive.
It also said institution heads should prioritise uninterrupted emergency
medical services and public interest while approving leave applications.
Civil surgeons and divisional directors will be allowed to coordinate emergency
staffing within their districts during the holiday period.
Heads of inpatient units have been
instructed to supervise departmental activities daily, while emergency
laboratory and X-ray services must remain operational at medical college
hospitals, specialised hospitals, district hospitals and upazila health
complexes.
Specialist doctors at the upazila level will also have to remain available on
call.
The directive instructed hospitals
to ensure adequate stock of medicines, IV fluids, chemical reagents and
surgical supplies before the holiday begins.
Storekeepers or staff responsible
during the holidays must remain stationed in their respective districts and
upazilas.
Hospitals have also been instructed
to keep ambulance services operational round the clock and notify local
administration and law enforcement agencies in advance regarding security
arrangements during the holidays.
DGHS further instructed all
healthcare institutions to maintain fire safety precautions during the Eid
holidays.
Institution heads and department
chiefs have been asked to maintain regular communication with officials and
staff responsible for holiday services and exchange Eid greetings with them on
Eid day.
The directive also stated that if
an institution head goes on leave, a designated replacement must be assigned
according to regulations and the higher authorities must be informed of the
responsible officer's name and mobile number.
Hospital authorities have
additionally been instructed to supervise the quality of food served to
patients on Eid day and exchange greetings with them.
Outdoor services cannot remain
closed for more than 72 consecutive hours, the notice said, adding that
hospitals may remain open on 26 May and 30 May depending on decisions by
institution heads.
Healthcare facilities located near
cattle markets have been asked to take special preparedness measures.
DGHS also directed all hospitals to
immediately inform its control room of any disaster or unexpected incident
during the holiday period.















