Dengue patients are being over-charged by a syndicate at Noakhali General Hospital, capitalising on the shortage of test kits and intravenous (IV) saline.

While the government fixed dengue test kit prices at Tk 50, with private hospitals charging Tk 300, many patients in Noakhali claimed that they were forced to pay up to Tk 1,500 for the test.

A syndicate of hospital staffers, fourth-class employees, Ansar members, and brokers is cashing on the helplessness of the dengue patients by demanding whatever they can from them for the tests or convincing them to conduct dengue tests at private hospitals instead, alleged locals.

Md Selim, 40, who was admitted to the hospital on Monday, said, "Even though this is a public hospital, I was charged Tk 400 for the dengue test."

Meanwhile, Anis Mahmud, 22, said he had to pay Tk 820 for a dengue test in the same hospital.

After speaking to a dozen of patients here, they all claimed to this correspondent that they were overcharged by the hospital staffers.

Benzir Ahmed, a resident of Arjuntola village, said, "Even a government hospital staffer suggested doing the tests at a private hospital, where I had to pay Tk 1,100 for dengue test."

Ismail Hossain, 20, attendee of a patient echoed him.

Similarly, due to a shortage of saline, public hospital patients were compelled to buy it from private pharmacies at higher prices.

"We have already sent a letter to the higher authorities seeking a sufficient amount of test kits and saline," said Dr Masum, Noakhali district civil surgeon.

Some 1,768 dengue cases have been detected in Noakhali so far this year, according to the civil surgeon's office.