Rein in errant clinics and diagnostic centres
We are deeply concerned by the irregularities revealed during the Directorate General of Health Services’ (DGHS) latest drive against private clinics, hospitals, and diagnostic centres. It has brought to the fore a troubling picture of negligence, illegal practices, and disregard for patient safety in some private healthcare facilities in the capital. From intensive care units (ICUs) functioning without doctors to hospitals operating with expired licences and exceeding approved capacity, the situation points to systemic failures in healthcare oversight.
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The case of Jamuna General Hospital, located at Muktijoddha Tower-1 in Mohammadpur, is particularly alarming. ICU services in the hospital were reportedly being run without any dedicated doctors, leaving nurses to manage critically ill patients with only occasional support from on-call physicians. No ICU protocols were being followed and the operating theatre was found to be unhygienic. Equally disturbing was the situation at TG Multispecialty Hospital and Diagnostic Centre, where no doctors were found on duty and no proper appointment records existed. Both facilities were operating with expired licences.
The DGHS has shut down some of these errant clinics, closed certain ICUs, and issued show-cause notices to others in its recent drive. But the question remains: why were these facilities allowed to operate in such conditions for so long? According to a 2024 DGHS report, around 1,027 private hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, and blood banks across the country are operating without valid licences, revealing a prolonged failure of oversight. This must not continue.
For years, patients have complained about excessive charges, poor services, and unprofessional staff behaviour in private healthcare facilities. In the absence of accountability, effective monitoring, and consistent enforcement, these grievances have largely gone unaddressed. Many facilities continue to charge substantial fees for critical services like ICUs while failing to meet even the most basic standards of care. Patients, often unable to secure beds in public hospitals, are left with little choice but to turn to such establishments, unknowingly exposing themselves to grave risks. This is deeply worrying.
We urge the DGHS to conduct regular drives against errant, non-compliant private medical facilities and to enforce the rules strictly. All unauthorised facilities must either be brought under a proper legal framework or shut down. The DGHS must also be adequately staffed and empowered to ensure continuous monitoring. Implementing the Health Sector Reform Commission’s recommendations—including setting up a service centre to expedite licensing and administrative processes for private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres—is crucial. Ensuring safe and reliable private healthcare requires consistent vigilance, institutional reform, and strong accountability.
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