DHAKA, Feb 25, 2024 (BSS) - Health and Family Welfare Minister Professor Dr Samanta Lal Sen today said the government will show zero tolerance against irregularities of private healthcare facilities.

"The authorities of private healthcare facilities must follow rules set by the government for ensuring quality medical services," he told a media briefing at his ministry here, an official release said.

The health minister said, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed me for handling any malpractices of private-run hospitals, clinics and diagnostics centres with an iron hand."

The government does not want to shut down private healthcare facilities for the sake of the greatest interest of the people, he said adding, "But all private hospitals, clinics and diagnostics centres must recruit adequate number of skilled healthcare professionals, equipping it with all necessary testing facilities."

"We have shut down 1,227 unregistered clinics and diagnostics centres in the past one month. We are continuing drive against unauthorized healthcare facilities," Samanta added

The health minister said the government will take tough measures against those hospitals which are lacking sufficient number of manpower and other technical facilities.

On February 22, at a function Health and Family Welfare Minister Professor Dr Samanta Lal Sen said private healthcare facilities must be run complying specific conditions imposed by the government.

He said, "We are noticing that some unscrupulous people are doing business with people's lives by setting up hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers. Authorities of these hospitals are not following government rules. They no longer will run their healthcare facilities beyond the rules."

More than 1,200 private health centers are still not registered, Samanta added.
 
He said every private medical/clinic/diagnostic centers must run the establishment in compliance with this office order. Failure to do so will result in severe penalties including cancellation of registration.

The key orders are - copy of license of private clinic/hospital and diagnostic centres must be permanently displayed in a visible place in front of the main entrance of the establishment.

In the case of all private health care institutions, there should be 1 (one) designated responsible information officer/employee for storing and providing all the information of the said institution and his photo and mobile number should be displayed in a visible place.

Anesthesia cannot be administered in chambers or diagnostic centers except in licensed/registered hospitals and clinics, the official order read. Any type of operation/surgery shall not be performed without BMDC recognized specialists.