A good number of private clinics and diagnostic centres in the city are operating illegally taking advantage of lax monitoring by the authorities concerned.
Sources at the Khulna Divisional Health Director’s office said among 155 private clinics and diagnostic centres in Khulna city, only 36 have renewed their licenses while 29 are operating without licenses and 20 with un-renewed licenses.Besides, some 65 clinics and diagnostic centres are awaiting licenses from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).The information about the private hospitals and pathological centres were found in an investigation carried out recently.The sources said though the health director’s office has the records of 155 (licensed and unlicensed) private medical centres in the metropolitan city, there is more such centres.Set up without taking approval from the Directorate of Health, a number of private hospitals and diagnostic centres have been doing illegal business for long.If any accident occurs in those illegally-run health centres, the liability does not fall on anybody.Besides, allegations are rife that the private hospitals with approval from DGHS are not following the rules set by the authorities concerned.
During the investigation, it was found that the private clinics were running business even without following necessary rules like having expert doctors round the clock and nurses with diploma degrees.Similarly, the pathological centres lack trained health technologists and necessary equipment.Wishing anonymity, an X-ray technician of a diagnostic centre at 53, Babukhana Road in the city told UNB that he has been working at the diagnostic centre for about six months despite the fact that he did not receive any training related to his job.The X-ray technician said many people like him were working at the city diagnostic centres without receiving training from Institute of Health Technology.When approached, Uttam, an owner of an unlicensed diagnostic centre, said they sent a letter to the office of the Health Director so that officials concerned of DGHS visit the centre and give approval to it.
It is mentionable that DGHS officials concerned make visit to proposed private clinics and diagnostic centres before giving them approval on fulfillment of conditions.Uttam said he would obtain license in a month as DGHS officials found everything right during their visit to his diagnostic centre, a claim
rejected outright by the sources at Health Director office.Thus, many diagnostic centres like the one owned by Uttam have been operating for years either being unlicensed or flouting rules set by the authorities.According to sources at the Directorate of Health, the unlicensed private clinics and diagnostic centres in the city are-Holypath Diagnostic Centre in Daulatpur, Khulna Matrimangal and Seba Kendra on the Islampur Road, Dr M Amam-ullah Clinic on the Bhairob Stand Road, Lab Tech Diagnostic on the Haji Mohsin Road, Sheikh Diagnostic and Consultation Centre at Goalkhali, Nahid Diagnostic Centre on the Chhoto Boyra Madrasa Road, Thyroid Care and Diagnostic Centre at Shantidham intersection, Doctors Point Diagnostic Consultation Centre at Daulatpur, Light Specialised Hospital on the South Central Road, Heath Garden of Boyra, MR Diagnostic Centre at Basupara Banstola, SA Diagnostic Centre and Thyroid Centre on Ahsan Ahmed Road, Comfort Diagnostic Centre at Goalkhali, Nargis Memorial Hospital Pvt Ltd on
South Central Road, United Diagnostic Centre and Consultation Centre on Babukhan Road, Khulna City Hospital on KDA Avenue, Ankur Diagnostic and Health Centre on Ahsan Ahmed Road, Desh Diagnostic Centre Babukhan Road, Khanjahan Ali Hospital and Diagnostic Centre Khan Jahan Ali Road, Ad-din Hospital (Blood Bank) at Boikali, Insaf Nursing Home on Rupsha Stand Road, Doctors Diagnostic Complex on Nirala Sher-e-Bangla Road, Boyra Central Clinic, Digital Diagnostic Centre at Khalishpur, Messer’s Doctors Diagnostic Centre, Ideal Nursing Home and Poly Clinic.Of them, Poly Clinic at Natun Raster More has sent a letter to the Directorate of Health saying that its activities have remained closed.Asked about the operation of illegal private clinics and diagnostic centres, Khulna Health Director Dr M Mamun Parvez said they will implement any decision taken by the health ministry in this regard.M Altaf Hossain, president of Bangladesh Medical Technologist Association in Khulna, said diagnostic centres often issue wrong medical report creating confusion due to lack of skilled technician at diagnostic centres and recommended appointment of trained technicians to the centres.
Dr Shawkat Ali Laskar, general secretary of Bangladesh Private Clinic and Diagnostic Owners’ Association, Khulna chapter, said the number of unlicensed health centres will come down if drives are conducted against them.He also assured of cooperation in this regard. -UNB
