Impact of crackdown: Unauthorised hospitals rush after DGHS for licence

A total of 2,136 hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres applied for registration in the week from May 26 to June 1, according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

This huge rush for licence began soon after the authorities started a crackdown on the unauthorised hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres across the country to ensure the standard and quality of health services in the sector.

Of the total, 845 applications came from new institutions, according to a source of the DGHS.

Over 300 applications have been submitted per day on an average during the period,up from 50 to 100 a week in the past.

Earlier on Wednesday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Zahid Maleque said that the hospitals and clinics having no registrations will be closed to ensure standards and qualities in the country’s health sector.

There are 11,000 hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres in the country and questions have been raised over the standards and qualities of many of them, he said.

On May 26, DGHS ordered the authorities to close all illegal hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres across the country within the next 72 hours.

The hospital, clinic and diagnostic centers that have not applied for licenses will be considered illegal, according to the DGHS.