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Govt lifts tax on dengue test kits


Published : 05 Aug 2019 09:08 PM | Updated : 06 Sep 2020 01:49 AM

The government has lifted all kinds of import tax, value added tax and other duties on dengue test kits, dengue reagent and test kits for platelet and plasma in blood. The announcement was made through a circular issued by the Internal Resources Division of the Finance Ministry on Monday afternoon. The circular also mentioned that the tax-free window will be applicable for importing the respective test kits, approved by the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), till August 31.

It also said the DGDA will also monitor the quality of the kits being imported into the country. In the last 24 hours, a total of 2,065 patients have been admitted to different hospitals countrywide due to dengue fever. Dengue, a mosquito-borne virus, spreads among humans through its carrier Aedes mosquito. The disease has no known cure or vaccine yet.

The number of admitted patients currently undergoing treatment in government and private hospitals combined is 7658, according to the latest data provided by Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Monday. Since January 1 till August 5 this year, a total of 27,437 people have been affected by dengue. Among those admitted, a total of 19,761 have been released from their respective hospitals and clinics after treatment.