The Ministry of Health in Bangladesh has announced that dengue diagnosis through the NS1 test will now be available free of charge at all government hospitals. The initiative will remain in effect until December 31, according to an official notification issued by the Health Services Division’s Government Health Management-1 branch on Sunday. The directive instructs the Director General of Health Services to take immediate steps to implement the decision.

The circular states that the decision follows approval from the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance. The move comes as dengue cases rise across the country with the onset of the monsoon season. So far this year, 7,110 people have been infected, of whom 61.5 percent are men and 38.5 percent are women. Nineteen deaths have been reported in 2026.

The free testing initiative is expected to support early detection and treatment of dengue cases, helping to reduce the disease’s spread and mortality during the current outbreak period.