Provide list of errant pvt hospitals, test centres

With the government's efforts to contain Covid-19 already marred by scams and mismanagement, the health ministry appears to have finally woken up and started taking some steps to avert further controversies.

Apart from some reshuffling at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the ministry gave several directives to its subordinate agencies to bring discipline in the otherwise unregulated private clinics and hospitals and their Covid-19 testing facilities.

It asked the DGHS, the implementing agency, to give a complete list of the private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres that did not renew their licences on time.

It also directed all civil surgeons to take legal action if allegations of irregularities and forgery are found against any healthcare facility over the testing or treatment of Covid-19 in their respective areas.

The developments came after Rab raided several hospitals in the capital, which were issuing fake Covid-19 certificates and operating without renewed licences.

Besides, the fraudulent activities by Regent Hospital and JKG Health Care over Covid-19 testing coupled with reports of irregularities and mishandling of the pandemic by the DGHS added fuel to the fire.

This was followed by the resignation of embattled Director General of DGHS, Prof Abul Kalam Azad, with the government hinting at making some changes in the top tier of the directorate.

There are over 15,000 private clinics and diagnostic centres in the country, two thirds of which have been running without any valid licence since 2018, facing almost no consequences, according to a previous report of The Daily Star.

The DGHS did nothing but send notices to these facilities and make public announcements in newspapers, officials said.

DIRECTIVES TO DGHS

In a letter to the Director General of the DGHS on Tuesday, the ministry said that Rab conducted a raid at Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital and found that the hospital was taking samples for antibody tests without the taking necessary permission and giving out Covid-19 test reports without conducting any test.

"It was also found that the Directorate General of Health Services has given approval to four private coronavirus testing centres, including that of Shahabuddin Medical College, without visiting the venues and before they [the hospitals] completed necessary preparation," read the letter.

During the raid, Rab's executive magistrate Sarwoer Alam said that although the authorities suspended the approval given to the hospital for Covid-19 testing, it was conducting antibody tests of the virus illegally, it said.

The letter also mentioned that the hospital was giving test results after carrying out Covid-19 tests outside the hospital, which is illegal.

"Different newspapers ran reports and television channels aired the news over the matter, which has tarnished the government's image," the letter said.

In this situation, the ministry asked the DG of the DGHS to give an explanation as to why it has given approval to Shahabuddin Medical College for Covid-19 testing without updating its licence and visiting the hospital.

The ministry also asked the DG to give a full list of the private hospitals, clinics and diagnosis centres -- with and without updated licences.

DIRECTIVES TO CIVIL SURGEONS

The ministry letter sent to all civil surgeons on Tuesday said the recent raids conducted by Rab in different hospitals, including JKG Health Care, and Regent and Shahabuddin hospitals, which have become infamous for cheating and forgery in Covid-19 treatment, and news of irregularities and corruption published in newspapers, drew huge attention and prompted discussion.

"Allegations of irregularities in issuance of Covid-19 [test] certificates and its treatment at district and upazila levels are also surfacing," the letter added.

In this given situation, you [civil surgeons] are asked to take legal action, in coordination with the respective deputy commissioners, if there are any allegations of irregularities or forgery against any hospital, clinic or diagnostic centres over the issuance of Covid-19 test certificates or treatment," reads the letter.

The copy of the letter was also sent to the DGHS DG and all deputy commissioners.