Eid vacation: DGHS issues 16 directives for health services

The Director General of Health Services on Tuesday issued a 16-point directive to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services across the country during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.

According to the directives, the presence of doctors must be ensured round the clock in the emergency department. The emergency department, labour room, emergency operation theatre, and labouratory must remain operational at all times.

To ensure adequate manpower and medical services at the workplace, staffers may be granted leave in phases before and after Eid through proper coordination, it said.

The head of the institution will grant leave, prioritising uninterrupted emergency medical services and public interest, it added.

The heads of the hospital's indoor units must monitor their departmental activities daily. Emergency labs and x-ray services must be operational round the clock at medical college hospitals, specialised hospitals, district hospitals, and upazila health complexes, the directives read.

On-call services for specialist doctors at the upazila level must be ensured, it said.

Before the holiday begins, there must be an adequate stock and immediate supply of medicines, IV fluids, chemical reagents, and surgical supplies.

The storekeeper or the on-duty staff during the holiday must remain in their respective districts and upazilas. Ambulance services must be operational round the clock, it said.

The local administration and law enforcement agencies must be informed in advance to ensure hospital security during the holidays.

All private clinics and hospitals must keep their emergency and maternity departments open under the supervision of registered doctors and before referring any patient, necessary primary treatment and medical arrangements for the journey must be ensured.