Health Minister Zahid Maleque today said there is no shortage of saline, which is in high demand for dengue patients, at government hospitals.

"Currently, there is no shortage of saline at government hospitals. Besides, the process of importing saline is going on. So, there will be no crisis of saline in future too," he said.

The minister said this while addressing a discussion as the chief guest after the inaugural ceremony of tree plantation at Col Malek Medical College auditorium in Manikganj, reports our district correspondent.

The health directorate organised the event on the occasion of Bangabandhu's death anniversary.

He said the dengue situation is stable across the country. There is a slight increase in the number of dengue patients outside Dhaka.

Around 82,000 people have been infected with mosque-borne disease this year, and about 9,000 patients are now admitted to hospitals, said the minister.

He said the country needs about 40-50 thousand saline bags daily. Saline manufacturing companies have been asked to produce at high levels, and they are doing so.

"Coronavirus has been controlled. Hopefully, we will control dengue too," the minister added.

DGHS Director General Prof Dr Abul Bashar Mohammed Khurshid Alam, among others, was present at the programme.