- Raids and investigations are underway across the country
- Closure of 1,227 illegal hospitals and clinics
- DGHS issues 10-point directive to hospitals and clinics
- Complaints of wrong treatment in illegal hospitals are high
- Illegal hospital-clinic activities will not be allowed to continue in any way: Dr Samanta Lal Sen, Minister of Health
Soon after the death of children due to circumcision is happening in different hospitals or clinics of the country, including capital, the drive and investigation of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) revealed that many so-called specialized hospitals in the country are running only with the trade licenses.
It has also been seen that more than one hospital is being operated with one license. According to the beds, there is a crisis of doctors in those hospitals which are running nominal medical activities and resorting to wrong treatment methods in the tendency of not leaving patients for purely commercial purposes.
Of lately, the United Hospital of Badda gave rise to the discussion of the death of children due to such wrong treatment. Although it was a reputed hospital, it did not have a valid license. After that, there were several incidents of child deaths and wrong treatment during circumcision in different hospitals and clinics in Dhaka and outside Dhaka. When circumcision has become a cause of panic among the people of the country, the DGHS is also conducting a series of drives and investigations against the so-called hospitals.
In continuation of this, the operation was conducted yesterday at Hi-Care Cardiac and Neuro Specialized Hospital in Sector 7 of Uttara. In the operation of the Department of Health, it has been found that this specialized hospital is running only with a trade license. There are also 25 patients undergoing treatment.
Dr Ehsanul Haque, assistant director (hospitals and clinics) of the DGHS, said the hospital has been running for the last two years. But they do not have the license needed to run the hospital. That is why the activities of the hospital have been suspended.
He also said the hospital has 100 beds, so it needs to have at least 10 doctors. But there were only six doctors at the time of the operation. The hospital was running with the license of their other hospital, Hi-Care General Hospital. Various irregularities have also been found in the branch of the hospital. Although the license papers were correct, the testing lab of the General Hospital was found in a dirty condition. According to the rules, various test samples were not preserved. The department alerted the concerned departments about this.
Meanwhile, the DGHS yesterday shut down Care Diagnostic Centre in the capital's Asad Gate area for operating without a license. For the second day in the capital, the drive against illegal clinics, hospitals, diagnostic centers and blood banks found various irregularities in the hospitals.
Earlier, the DGHS conducted drives in 12 institutions on the first day of the drive. Six of these institutions have been closed. The institutions are Radium Blood Bank and Rajdhani Blood Bank at Muktijoddha Tower, TG Hospital, Al Hakim Eye Hospital on ECB premises, Asian Diagnostic Centre and HS Dialysis and Diagnostic Centre at Kalshi.
Meanwhile, a five-year-old boy named Ayan died while undergoing treatment for a week after circumcision at the United Medical College Hospital in Badda. After the incident, the DGHS raided the hospital and found that it was running without a license. For this reason, the overall activities of the hospital were stopped by the Department of Health. It was also ordered to conduct operations across the country. In continuation of this, on February 22, instructions were given to hang the license of private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers. The department also issued a 10-point new directive, including the appointment of information officers and labor room protocol obligations. At the same time, these instructions must be observed, the regulatory body said.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen said that the government will take a zero-tolerance policy against illegal hospitals and clinics. He said some 1,227 illegal clinics and diagnostic centres were closed during the one-month drive. This operation is still going on. He also warned that the activities of illegal hospitals and clinics will not be allowed to continue in any way.
ARS
