To stop malpractices in the health sector, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has so far identified around 1,050 illegal hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and blood banks across the country.
Meanwhile, 727 of the illegal hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and blood banks have been shut down so far since the DGHS launched drives against unlicensed healthcare centres 16 days ago.
On 15 January, the High Court also asked the authorities concerned to submit lists of authorised and unauthorised healthcare facilities in a month following the death of little boy Ayaan Ahmed at United Medical College Hospital in Dhaka following undergoing circumcision.
After that, the DGHS directed the divisional health directors and civil surgeons to submit information on all unregistered hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and blood banks.
Alongside preparing the list, raids were ongoing to shut down the unlicensed healthcare organisations.
Dr Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan, Acting Director (Hospitals and Clinics) of DGHS, told Bangladesh Post “According to the instructions of the High Court, a list of unlicensed hospitals and clinics across the country has been prepared. We have listed around 1050 unlicensed, substandard hospitals across the country. Out of those, 727 illegal hospitals, clinics, diagnostic and blood banks will be shut down across the country.”
“Some of these institutions have never been licensed, many clinics were licensed five years ago and have not been renewed. And some clinics could not meet our criteria at all. That is why the mobile court closed them as per Rule 82,” he added.
He said “Those who are completely unlicensed or who have never applied to us will be closed. And in rule 82 there is an opportunity to appeal. If they fall under the appellate act, they can appeal to us.”
“No doctor should sit in an unregistered clinic. But we have had this practice here for such a long time that many doctors sit without looking. A doctor’s overall safety-respect cannot be guaranteed in an unregistered clinic,” he added.
According to sources of the hospital and clinic branch of the DGHS, 70 hospitals, 40 diagnostic centres, 10 blood banks have been closed in Dhaka; 32 hospitals, 82 diagnostic centres have been closed in Chattogram division; 30 hospitals, 52 diagnostic centres and 10 blood banks have been closed in Rajshahi division; 105 hospitals, 139 diagnostic centres and 74 blood banks have been closed in Khulna; 16 hospitals, 43 diagnostic centres have been closed in Mymensingh; seven hospitals, 15 diagnostic centres have been closed in Barishal division; five hospitals, four diagnostic centres have been closed in Rangpur division and one hospital and one diagnostic centre have been closed in Sylhet.
However, though a number of unauthorised healthcare facilities are closed during special drives, many of them resume their activities.
Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen on Sunday said “No illegal hospital will be allowed to operate.”
Samanta Lal requested the owners of the illegal hospitals and diagnostic centres to either close down their establishments or fix the existing issues. Otherwise, they have to face strict action, he warned.
According to the data available on the DGHS website, there are 15,213 authorised private healthcare facilities across the country. Of them, 5,017 are hospitals and clinics, 9,999 diagnostic centres and 197 blood banks.
When contacted, Dr Abul Hadi Mohammad Shah Paran, civil surgeon of Shariatpur district, told Bangladesh Post “There are about 80 hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres in our district. We’ve already shut down 7 unauthorised hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres. We’ll continue our drive against the illegal ones.”
Dr Lelin Chowdhury, a noted public health expert, told Bangladesh Post “No country should have illegal healthcare institutes. These should be closed. We want order to return to the health sector of the country. Let the quality of health services of the country be improved. So that people do not go outside the country for treatment.”
Sources said the DGHS has launched operations against illegal hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers at various times. The drive lasted for several days, but then it slowed down.
In 2020, the DGHS launched such an operation. However due to pressure from the owners, the drive did not see the light of day. As a result, action could not be taken against many illegal institutions.
On May 25, 2022, the DGHS launched a drive against illegal healthcare institutions with a sudden announcement.
People and dignitaries applauded the initiative and advised them to continue the drive. Even the Bangladesh Private Hospital Owners Association welcomed this activity.
At that time several institutions were fined and closed. However, when the speed of the drive slowed down, the illegal healthcare institutions became active again.
During the DGHS special drive from 19 September till 15 October, 2023, they shut down 165 illegal private healthcare facilities and realised Tk50 lakh in fine on various charges. But the drive later stopped.
Many alleged that such attitude of the authorities concerned is giving space to the owners of the illegal private healthcare facilities to run the activities, which is putting public health at risk.
