The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Thursday directed the authorities concerned to close all unregistered clinics, private hospitals and diagnostic centres across the country within 72 hours. The instruction was given after a meeting chaired by Additional Director General (Admin) of DGHS Prof Dr Ahmedul Kabir at DGHS conference room in the afternoon. Also read: Health rules to be maintained till 100 percent vaccination achieved: DGHS The directors of all illegal clinics, diagnostic centers and private hospitals, civil surgeons and divisional and upazila health officers have been asked to enforce the instruction. The meeting also decided to give a deadline to renew their license. If the hospitals, clinic and diagnostic centers fail to renew their licenses within the deadline then their operation will be suspended. Also read: Covid positivity rate in Bangladesh declines in a week: DGHS The meeting also decided that harsh action including revoking the licenses will be taken against hospitals and clinics if they allow other people to stay at the operation theaters other than registered physicians. Besides, no clinic, private hospital and diagnostics center will be allowed to run their activities until they get a license.

Private hospitals charge up to Tk five lakh on an average for treatment of a corona patient  as low-come middle class people are forced to go there due to shortage of ICU facilities in government hospitals. This was revealed by a recent study of anti-graft watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) titled "Tackling Coronavirus Pandemic: Governance Challenges in COVID-19 Vaccine Management.” Also read: Third party’s involvement behind vaccine crisis: TIB "A large number of the population, mostly the middle class, has been forced to seek treatment at private hospitals due to lack of facilities in dedicated government Covid-19 hospitals," TIB Deputy Programme Manager Md Julkarnayeen said while presenting the results of the study on Tuesday. Besides, the research sheds light on the fact that the rate of inclusion of low-income, rural and impoverished people has been very low in the vaccination drive largely due to lack of publicity and complicated registration process. Also read: TIB seeks transparency in vaccine collection, distribution The study found that around 43% of the vaccinated population have faced problems in registering. The inclusion of women under the vaccination drive was 37%, the study said. The TIB report said that irresponsibility and lack of coordination between government bodies have caused sufferings to  expatriates returning to overseas work. They have to spend an additional Tk 60,000-70,000 each for not having a vaccination certificate.

The government will begin inspection of all private hospitals and diagnostic centres across the country this month after collecting their lists from divisional directors.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Wednesday informed the High Court that 12,543 private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers in the country have submitted applications seeking their licence renewal.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday said it will be possible to get rid of coronavirus very soon if the government and private hospitals work together.   “Everyone should have a contribution to prevent coronavirus. If the government and private hospitals work together, we will be able to bid farewell to coronavirus from the country very soon,” he said.   He made these remarks while inaugurating Zainul Haque Sikder Women's Medical College, Gulshan branch dedicated to treating coronavirus patients, through a video conference from his residence.   Apart from government hospitals, private hospitals have been playing an important role in preventing coronavirus in the country, he said.   He also said that Zainul Haque Sikder Women's Medical College is a modern hospital with 50 beds including 21 intensive care and chest pain units.   The people of this area will get coronavirus testing facilities at the hospital as it has Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing facilities, he added.   Parveen Haque Sikder, MP, director of Sikder Group presided over the inaugural programme where Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services and other officials were present.