Bangladesh, July 7 -- All government hospitals across Bangladesh will offer free Non-Structural Protein 1 (NS1) tests to diagnose dengue.

The facility will remain available until Dec 31.

On Jul 5, the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health said the decision had been taken following approval from the Finance Division.

It directed the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to take the steps to provide free NS1 tests at government hospitals until the end of the year.

The DGHS has been asked to begin the implementation process without delay.

The policy shift completely waives the previous diagnostic fees at public medical centres, where the then government had capped the charge for dengue diagnostic tests at Tk 50 ...