Regent Hospital Scam: Minister passes buck to DGHS
Health Minister Zahid Maleque yesterday said he attended a ceremony marking a government deal signing with Regent Hospital at the request of the director general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
He, however, apparently tried to ease the ongoing rift between his ministry and the DGHS over the issue, as he insisted that there was no disagreement between them.
"The ministry can ask for any explanation from the DGHS. It's a part of government activities," the minister told reporters at his office.
"There could be some misunderstandings for a temporary period, but there is no disruption in the health services for that," he said.
The comments came two days after the ministry asked DGHS DG Prof Abul Kalam Azad to explain his statement that the directorate signed the memorandum of understanding with Regent Hospital on directives from "the higher authorities of the ministry".
Recently, a mobile court sealed off the private hospital's Uttara branch on charges of issuing fake Covid-19 test reports and illegally charging coronavirus patients for treatment, breaching the agreement.
The DG did not submit his explanation till this report was filed last night.
Speaking on the MoU signing ceremony, the minister said, "We went to the DG's office for a meeting. There was an inter-ministerial meeting. There were some secretaries and others.
"The DG requested us not to go and said 'you too stay as there will be a contract signing ceremony. It [the deal signing] will be with Regent after lunch. So, we stayed. We were happy that a new hospital came forward to treat Covid-19 patients."
He said, "When private hospitals were hesitating to give treatment [to Covid-19 patients], they came forward and inked the deal. We were happy. And then we left."
The health minister said the events that followed were "unfortunate" and whatever the hospital did was wrong.
"Actions have been taken as per the law," he said, adding that there would have been some records had the ministry given any instructions in this regard."
"Let's see what the DG explains," the minister said.
The DGHS signed the MoU with Regent in March, turning it into a dedicated Covid-19 hospital, in a ceremony attended by the health minister. The DGHS was aware that the hospital's licence had expired six years ago.
On July 7, a Rab mobile court raided Regent Hospital's Uttara branch and sealed it off.
The court said it found proof that the hospital issued several thousand fake Covid-19 test reports.
Amid widespread criticism, the DGHS on Saturday said it was the higher authorities at the health ministry who asked the directorate to sign the MoU.
Enraged, the ministry issued a show-cause notice to the DG the next day, asking him to explain the comment in three work days.
On another scam involving JKG Hospital, the minister said, "If there is any wrongdoing, the organisation concerned and relevant authorities are responsible for that."
On Sunday, police held JKG Health Care Chairman Dr Sabrina Arif Chowdhury, also a government official, over issuing fake Covid-19 test reports, about three weeks after the scam came to light.
The minister said whenever any organisation is assigned for any task, certain procedures are followed and it is the DGHS that overseas them.
He also said a taskforce would be formed soon to scrutinise the licences of different hospitals and clinics.
"The taskforce will visit [hospitals and clinics] regularly and scrutinise their licences," he added.
After talking to reporters, the minister held meetings with Secretary to Health Services Abdul Mannan and Secretary to Health Education Md Ali Nur separately, among others.
He directed the secretaries to take steps immediately if any unethical practices are done by any hospital or clinic, said meeting sources.
Meanwhile, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has expressed deep concern over the "rampant corruption, irregularities, and mismanagement" in the health sector.
In a statement yesterday, the rights body criticised the DGHS's approval given to Regent Hospital, saying the hospital used to be a diagnostic centre before it was turned into a hospital.
It said questions arise how the DGHS gave a diagnostic centre the go-ahead to treat Covid-19 patients when Regent Hospital did not have a valid licence.
On the rift between the health ministry and the health directorate, the ASK said it manifested the widening gap between the two government entities.
The rights body said a judicial inquiry was must to stop recurrence of irregularities and corruption in the sector.
It also demanded punitive actions against those involved and their identities are disclosed before the public within five weeks.
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