COVID-19: BD’s recovery rate one of lowest in SE, South Asia

NEWS DESK

The recovery rate of coronavirus patients in the country is the lowest among South and Southeast Asian nations as Bangladesh still lags behind these countries in providing health services, an analysis showed.

The FT in its data analysis has found that the recovery rate among the patients in Bangladesh was 19 per cent, lower than South Asian nations including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan while higher than only Nepal and Afghanistan.

Besides, its recovery rate is also lower than some Southeast Asian nations including Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Public health experts said under-preparedness and vulnerable health services system of the government are the key reasons for the poor recovery rate than other neighbouring countries in Asia.

The FT has analyzed the data available with Bangladesh's Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), global data providing website worldometers.info, ministry of health and health services bodies of different countries in the South Asia and South-East Asian countries.

The FE has found that the coronavirus recovery rate in neighbouring India until May 16 was 35 per cent, while Pakistan 28 per cent, Sri Lanka 51 per cent, Nepal 13 per cent, and Bhutan 24 per cent.

Among the Southeast Asian nations, 79 per cent people recovered in Malaysia, 27 per cent in Singapore, 83 per cent in Vietnam, 88 per cent in Taiwan and 20 per cent in the Philippines.

According to the Bangladesh's IEDCR, the country has detected 20,995 coronavirus patients until May 16. Out of the infected persons, a total of 4,117 persons recovered from the deadly virus while 314 patients died.

In the South Asian countries, Sri Lanka is on the top of the coronavirus recovery rate as some 488 patients, 51 per cent of its total 935 cases, recovered until May 16.

In India, 30,258 patients out of total 85,950 cases were cured of the virus until Saturday morning.

Pakistan is also ahead of Bangladesh as its total 10,888 infected patients recovered against 38,799 cases.

Among the Southeast Asian countries, Taiwan has showed its highest success rate as its 387 coronavirus infected people had recovered from the disease out of 440 cases.

Vietnam is in the second on the list as its 260 patients were cured of the deadly virus among the total number of 314 persons until May 16.

Public health rights activist Dr Rashid-e-Mahbub told the FT that Bangladesh had delayed in taking preparations and created mismanagement resulting in poor health services for the COVID patients.

Since the country still lacks modern medicare facilities including dedicated oxygen supply system, ICU and special care support, skilled doctors, nurses and other health workers, treatment for the corona patients was not up to the mark, he added.