Innumerable clinics, hospitals, diagnostic centers and blood banks are running medical operations without a license, for that common people are in unwanted danger, but due to lack of adequate surveillance and operations from the administration, the trade in the name of treatment in these illegal clinics is increasing day by day.

Alam Memorial Hospital is carrying out medical operations without a license in Rupnagar of the capital. Marufa Jahan Maisha, a 6 year-old child of Kurigram, died during a finger operation.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) launched an ultimatum last September. The highest number of hospitals and clinics have applied for registration this year in a phase-by-phase campaign. But then the campaign stopped. On this occasion, many are again opening clinics like mushrooms.

The DGHS has warned doctors against providing services at unregistered hospitals, clinics or diagnostic centers in the wake of the Alam Memorial Hospital incident. In a notice DGHS said, If you provide services in these unregistered institutions, the responsibility must be borne by the concerned doctor. If the health department comes to know about the matter, it will take necessary action as per the rules.

According to DGHS’s hospital and clinic branch, there are currently 13, 946 registered hospitals and clinics in the country. But despite several ultimatums, about 4,500 clinics, hospitals and blood banks have not yet applied for registration.

Another 2,203 clinics have applied for re-registration after the raid last September. When the DGHS falters, the application falls. But when the operation stopped, these criminal gangs opened shops in the name of clinics.

By closing illegal hospitals and blood banks, the government's revenue has been Tk 26 crore in June-August. Apart from this, the largest number of establishments in memory have been granted licenses at this time. The rush to renew licenses and take new licenses in the first few days after the raid in May has slowed down.

Earlier, through a notification on May 26, the DGHS ordered the closure of all illegal hospitals, diagnostic centers and blood banks across the country within 72 hours.

After this directive, with the help of local administration, the Department of Health launched an operation to close illegal private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers across the country.

According to sources in the DGHS, they have closed nearly 2,000 illegal hospitals, diagnostic centers and blood banks in raids across the country in the last six months.

In June-August, 1, 103 establishments came under new registration and 2, 181 establishments renewed their licenses. 2, 339 applications have been submitted for the new license. 4, 598 applications have been submitted for license renewal.

DGHS has issued a letter warning to those establishments which have registered but are not complying with all the conditions of operation of the establishment to improve the situation.

There is a shortage of manpower required to conduct the operation across the country in the hospitals and clinics of the DGHS. Due to lack of judicial power, they cannot directly conduct operations and impose lock-ups or fines.

Therefore, the cooperation of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer or the District Commissioner is required if the operation is conducted.

DGHS assistant director Billal Hossain told Bangladesh Pratidin, “Hospital visits, raids are our regular activities. We take action against not only illegal hospitals but also registered hospitals for any irregularities. They are warned and given show cause notices.”

“However, due to inadequate manpower, it may not always be possible to conduct nationwide operations,” he added.

According to the sources of the hospital branch of the DGHS, private institutions have been providing medical services since 1982 with a license.

However, once registered, many organizations do not renew it. Many institutions initially took permission for 10 beds but later did not inform DGHS if they increased the number of beds. Many have not increased the manpower in keeping with the beds.

@The report was published in Bengali on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on December 14 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan.