Bangladesh, Nov. 15 -- A severe shortage of life-saving intravenous (IV) saline has hit hospitals and pharmacies across Sylhet. With the rising incidence of diseases such as dengue and diarrhea, the demand for saline has surged, yet market supply has plummeted to critically low levels.

Consequently, patients seeking treatment and their families at both public and private hospitals, including the Sylhet M.A.G. Osmani Medical College Hospital, are facing immense hardship.

A survey of at least 20 pharmacies over the past two days in areas including Medical Road, Chouhatta, Zindabazar, Ambarkhana, and Dargah Gate revealed a critical scarcity of Normal Saline (NS), DNS, Dextrose, and Hartmann's solution. Most pharmacies have virtually no st...