Law to ensure quality service soon

The government is planning to formulate an act soon aiming at ensuring quality health services at private health care centres at a reduced cost.
The plan to enact a private health service act has come to the front as the existing Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982 has lost its relevance due to a boom in the private health service.
There is a common allegation that private health facilities charge higher costs from patients than the quality of their services.
Since May 27, 1982 to May 31, 2009 some 2,283 licensed hospitals and 4,755 licensed diagnostic centres are running in the country. But, the ordinance lacks power to control such a huge number of private health centres and to ensure patients' rights. That is why formulation of a new comprehensive act is a must, said sources at Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The ordinance lacks control over user fee and establishments of new hospitals. Even the definition of the hospitals and clinics is not made clear in the existing ordinance, they said.
Furthermore, different hospitals and clinics have been charging differently from the patients, as the price range is not fixed in the ordinance.
An x-ray for the whole abdomen test costs Tk 300 to Tk 500 at most of the private hospitals. But at Labaid Hospital it costs Tk 1,200. As patients are not told about the charge before going through the process, they have to stumble down at the time of paying the bills, said a patient who sought treatment at a city's private health centre.
When contacted, the Labaid authorities said they charge more as they use 4D machine for x-rays.
"There is nothing in the ordinance about registration of the hospitals providing outdoor services. That is why an increasing number of hospitals has been set up without licenses from the Directorate General of Health Services," said Dr Md Aminul Hasan Palash, deputy programme manager (hospital services) of the DGHS.
"But, we cannot take any legal steps against them for absence of a strong legal support. Even the hospitals and clinics running illegally are getting impunity for this reason," he said.
The existing ordinance does not say anything about licenses for dental, acupuncture and dialysis clinics. That is why these clinics could not be brought under control.
There is also the same registration and renewal fees for a 10-bed clinic and a 500-bed clinic or a hospital for the last 28 years, he added.
"In the new law, there will be separate policy for private clinics and hospitals. Furthermore, a uniform user fee will be introduced for the sake of the patients and the registration and renewal fees will be reset," said AKF Mozibur Rahman, director (Hospital) of DGHS.
There should have a provision for minimum diagnostic facility to get license for hospitals and clinics, he said.
When asked about how much time it will take, the director said it depends on the government's political will. Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) should also have to play an important role here, he added.
"It is very unfortunate that the country is yet to have any act to control the private hospitals and ensure quality service there. The initiative is praiseworthy," said Prof Rashid E Mahbub, former president of BMA and president of Health Movement.
Before finalisation, it should be made public and there must be a debate among the stakeholders on it, he said.
Earlier a private medical service ordinance 2004 was placed in the parliament. But it was withdrawn for some of its loopholes. Then it was again amended during the period of the caretaker government in 2007 and now the government is trying to formulate a comprehensive law.
The DGHS will submit the comprehensive document of the private health service act to the ministry by May, DGHS sources said.