DGHS shuts 8 healthcare facilities in Dhaka

Health authorities sealed off eight healthcare facilities in the capital on Monday afternoon during their drives against unregistered healthcare institutes.

They closed down Khilgaon General Hospital in Khilgaon, Central Bashabo General Hospital in Basabo, Kanak General Hospital at Matuail, Salman Hospital and Diagnostic Center at Shanir Akhra, Khidmah Life Care Diagnostic Center at Bakshibazar, Dhaka General Hospital at Chankharpool, Hair Transplant Cosmetic Surgery Consultancy and Diagnostic Centre at Banani and Dhaka Pain and Spine Center at Banani area.

The officials of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said they are conducting the drives against health care centres running without registration or licences, not against those who are yet to renew their licences.

Sources at the directorate said that authorities of Khilgaon General Hospital were given 24 hours to shut down their hospital as the DGHS official found that four patients were admitted there for treatment.

DGHS Assistant Director Mahmudur Rahman said they allowed the hospital 24 hours for the continuation of the treatment of these four patients.

Meanwhile, Belal Hossain, assistant director of DGHS (Hospital and Clinic unit), led the drivers at Khidmah Life Care Diagnostic Center in Bakshibazar.

He told the media that the health care centre was found conducting tests without a licence. They will complain to the BMDC about the physicians who are working in these unlicensed or unregistered hospitals or clinics.

DGHS sources said the health authority would review the legal instruments to find ways to lodge a complaint. If there is no such scope, they would inform the regulator concerned of the malpractices happening.