Doctors being trained to prevent dengue mismanagement, reduce deaths: State Minister

State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr MA Muhit on Tuesday said that 1,600 doctors are receiving specialised training simultaneously in 40 districts to ensure quality dengue treatment across the country and prevent deaths caused by errors in clinical management.

"Efforts are underway to bring the death rate from dengue down to zero by equipping doctors with science-based training, ensuring that no dengue patient dies due to lack of treatment or errors in management," he said.

Doctors are being trained in accordance with clinical management standards for dengue, which will help reduce the death rate and save many lives, the state minister added.

Dr Muhit made the remarks as the chief guest at the inaugural session of the daylong emergency training programme, titled 'Training of Doctors on Clinical Management of Dengue' at Dhaka Medical College here, said a press release.

The emergency training programme has been launched across the country under the direction of the state minister. Specialist professors and doctors of the Bangladesh Society of Medicine are conducting the training programme across the country.

Principals of medical colleges, civil surgeons and representatives of doctors from grassroots-level facilities and specialised hospitals across the country joined the programme both virtually and in person.

Highlighting the success of the healthcare sector and the relentless efforts of doctors, Dr Muhit said 63,627 dengue patients have so far been hospitalised during the current dengue season.

Despite limited facilities and heavy patient pressure, he said, 59,083 patients have already recovered and returned home, while around 4,300 patients are currently undergoing treatment.

"Despite the rise in the number of patients, doctors and health workers across the country are successfully treating around 99 percent of those infected and sending them back to their families," the state minister said.

Dr Muhit, also an international public health expert, said an effective healthcare system cannot be built solely on emotions or unplanned decisions.

"Initiatives are now being taken to address crises in a coordinated manner by collecting epidemiological data, formulating science-based plans, and providing training to doctors," he said.

Emphasising the professional dignity and social protection of doctors and other health workers, the state minister said indiscriminate media trials against healthcare professionals are not acceptable.

"There should be no distance between service providers and the people. The desired reforms in the health system must be advanced while ensuring due respect for doctors," he said.

It was informed at the programme that around 350 senior doctors had earlier received Training of Trainers (ToT) under an initiative of the Bangladesh Society of Medicine.

Those senior doctors are now conducting simultaneous training for 1,600 doctors in 40 districts across the country.