500,000 testing kits urgently required

The national technical advisory committee has said that 500,000 test kits would be required immediately, to detect coronavirus cases in the country.

The committee has also noted that there were serious weaknesses and lack of coordination in the treatment of patients. It also said that firm measures should be taken from now regarding vaccines in the future.

These recommendations were made at the meeting of the national technical advisory committee formed regarding the prevention, control and treatment of coronavirus.

The meeting tabled 22 recommendations on 8 issues. The 17-member committee held the meeting on Wednesday at Hotel Abakash in the capital city. This was the committee’s second meeting.

The committee said that it was necessary to consult experts before gradually relaxing the various directives imposed for social health protection.

It made recommendations regarding the standard of treatment at hospitals, testing, vaccines, oxygen supply, work methods, protection of health workers, mental pressure, management of critical patient and other issues.

Convenor of the committee and president of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC), Mohammod Shahidullah, told Prothom Alo, “We prepared these recommendations after looking into the various measures taken by the government, visiting the hospitals specified for COVID-19 and also talking to physicians and other health workers. We hope that the health ministry gives due importance to these recommendations and takes immediate steps accordingly.”

These recommendations have come at a time when the number of coronavirus patients is increasing every day. On 18 April the number of positive cases had been 306. Since then, there have been 300 to 500 new cases every day. On Wednesday, 641 were identified, taking the number of cases over 7000. The lack of equipment in hospitals as well as questions regarding the quality of treatment at hospitals was also raised.

Speaking to Prothom Alo about the overall situation and the recommendations of the committee, additional secretary of the health ministry (services division) Habibur Rahman Khan said, “We are working in all sectors. I see nothing new in the committee’s recommendations. If there is anything new, that will be given due attention.”

He also said that the central medical store depot was trying to procure kits.

The government has specified 9 government hospitals and 6 private ones in the capital city for COVID-19 treatment. Outside of the capital, another 64 hospitals in 8 divisions have been selected for the purpose.

The advisory committee drew up its recommendations based on data collected from visits by experts and ministry officials to certain hospitals in the capital city. However, concerned persons said that the state of the hospitals outside Dhaka was worse and it is high time that attention be paid there.

Kits and labs

Even two weeks ago the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) would update the public about its stock of coronavirus testing kits through its news bulletin and press releases. It has stopped doing so. After Wednesday’s press briefing, DHS additional director general Nasima Sultana told Prothom Alo, “We have over 100,000 kits.”

Concerned officials said that it will not be possible to carry out tests for very long with the kits in stock. The kits are being used in 25 laboratories at present. And 25 labs will soon be added to the testing. And the capacity of the labs being used at present will also be expanded.

DGHS director general Abul Kalam Azad, speaking to Prothom Alo on Tuesday, said that they will carry out 10,000 tests a day. The number of patients under treatment was also increasing. These patients would need to be tested for the second time to see if they had fully recovered from the virus.

So far, 59,709 samples have been tested in the country. Over the past 24 hours, 4,968 samples were tested. This was the highest number of tests conducted in a day in the country. It was 14.68 per cent higher than the number of tests carried out in the previous day. Experts say that the number of tests in comparison to the population is still very low.

The advisory committee has recommended higher numbers of tests and also for tests to be conducted in more laboratories so that the results can be given faster. It said that it was urgent to immediately procure 500,000 testing kits.

A representative of a donor agency, on condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has always stressed on the importance to tests. There is huge demand for kits in many countries of the world and so initiative must be taken immediately to procure the kits.

Convenor of the committee, Mohammod Shahidullah, told Prothom Alo, kits would be needed throughout May and till the end of June. Another member of the committee, preferring to remain unnamed, said if the stock of kits dwindles, there will be fewer tests. Then increasing the number and the capacity of laboratories will be of no use.

About treatment

It was learnt from several members of the committee that three experts and senior officials of the ministry visited hospitals specified for COVID-19 treatment in the capital city. They noted a lacking in the treatment provided at these hospitals. The reasons behind this, among others, were shortages of physicians and other health workers as well.

The committee said that an adequate number of senior and junior physicians of various branches were required in every hospital. The number of ward boys and cleaners also had to be increased in order to ensure the quality of service.

The committee was not happy about the quality of personal protective equipment (PPE) of the physicians and other health workers. They said that PPE of the WHO recommended standard must be provided. They also said that an expert committee should be formed to monitor the quality of the PPE.

Many patients were remaining in the hospitals even after their condition had improved, the committee observed. This was because they required to be tested twice in a matter of 24 hours to ensure that there was no trace of coronavirus in their bodies. The hospitals beds were remaining occupied because of these tests. The committee recommended that these patients be sent home or to isolation centres.

ICU treatment

According to official records, there are only 349 ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds in the hospitals selected for COVID-19 patients around the country. Experts estimate that by 31 May the number of patients may be around 50,000 to 100,000. The number of ICU beds is negligible compared to that.

The committee had made specific recommendations in this regard. They said that the patients need oxygen and so the number of cylinders and the supply of oxygen must be increased. Secondly, ICU facilities must be increased too. Thirdly, the number of ventilators must be increased. Fourthly, specialists are required to administer this treatment. There are such specialists in the country and they need to be appointed on an emergency basis.

About vaccines

Mohammod Shahidullah said, vaccines are likely to be the best antidote to COVID-19. Work is on all over the world to make these vaccines. Bangladesh needs to take up a partnership in the process. Communications at an international level with WHO and the international institute Gavi, should be carried out now to ensure that every person in Bangladesh will get the vaccine when it has successfully been made.

In its recommendations, the committee said clinical trials of the vaccine have begun in various countries. Many developing countries are involved in the process. An effort should be made to have Bangladesh’s scientists and experts involved too.

Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA)’s former president Rashid-e-Mahbub told Prothom Alo, “There is a shortage of resources, but it is also apparent that some work has not been carried out due to a lack of planning and coordination. I hope the government wastes no more time and takes initiative to implement the recommendations. Complaints will lessen and the quality of treatment will improve.”