58 clinics, diagnostic centres closed

Health department officials have shut down at least 58 private clinics and diagnostic centres in different upazilas of Patuakhali on various charges, including operating without registration, non-renewal of registration and not having related facilities.

Seven of these facilities have been closed permanently while the authorities of the others have been asked to halt their operation until further notice.

A team of the health department led by district civil surgeon Jahangir Alam visited 149 clinics and diagnostic centres in eight upazilas of the district throughout the last week and issued the shutdown orders on Thursday.

According to sources, many of these facilities were operating without registration while some of them were lacking necessary manpower.

Several managing directors of the temporarily closed diagnostic centres said they could not renew their documents as the renewal process remained suspended for the last few months due to coronavirus pandemic.

Contacted, Jahangir Alam said the facilities were closed to ensure quality health services.