No illegal clinics to be allowed to operate

No one will be allowed to operate irregular businesses in the name of providing healthcare facilities, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said yesterday.

"Illegal and unregistered clinics and hospitals won't be allowed to play with people's lives," he told journalists after visiting Rajshahi Sadar Hospital around 10:30am.

Some 2,000 clinics and hospitals have been closed in drives of the health directorate and such drives will continue, he added.

Responding to a question, he said, "If any clinic remains open without having proper legal documents, we'll take action against its authorities."

Rajshahi Sadar Hospital has been closed for a long time.

At present, the dental unit of Rajshahi Medical College Hospitalis operating on the hospital premises.

Initiatives were taken to reopen the hospital during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite all the preparations, the hospital remained closed.

The hospital was renovated for treating Covid patients. As the situation has now changed, the treatment of general patients will be started here, the minister said.

The health minister also visited Rajshahi Medical College Hospital on Wednesday night.

About the visit, he said, "There is a shortage of human resources at the medical college. Initiatives will be taken to expand its infrastructure."

The health minister also said a 40-bed ICU will be opened at the RMCH soon.

Senior health officials accompanied the minister during his visits to the hospitals.