Five magistrates to act against addl charges for dengue test: Atiqul

Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Md Atiqul Islam said on Monday five magistrates were conducting drives at different public and private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres to check excessive charges for dengue test, reports UNB.
"The magistrates who started work on Monday will slap fine on those who will violate the government's order to charge Tk 500 for the test," he said while speaking at views-exchange meeting with the editors of print, electronic and online media on 'dealing with dengue and building a clean city' at Gulshan Club in the city.
The DNCC mayor also urged hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres to treat patients from a humanitarian point of view and take charges fixed by the government for the dengue test.
The government on Sunday fixed Tk 500 for diagnosing dengue and directed all the public and private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres to abide by the official instruction.
Atiqul suggested setting up a 'central cell' under the Health and Family Welfare Ministry immediately for research on dengue. "Representatives from all city corporations across the country will be there in the cell."
Besides, accountability of workers and supervisors tasked for destroying mosquitoes in the city will be ensured, he said, adding that now there is no syndicate for purchasing mosquito medicines.
Financial Express Editor Shah Husain Imam, Daily Observer Editor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Bangladesh Pratidin Editor Naem Nizam, Gazi TV Chief Editor Syed Ishtiaq Reza, acting Editor of The News Today Moslem Uddin Ahmed, among others, spoke at the meeting.