Tough action if illegal clinic, diagnostic centres not closed by Sunday: DGHS

A tough action will be taken if all illegal clinics and diagnostic centres across the country are not closed by Sunday, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Saturday.

Earlier on Thursday, the DGHS ordered the authorities to shut down all illegal clinics and diagnostic centres across the country within the next 72 hours.

The announcement was an outcome of a meeting held at the DGHS Mohakhali office on Wednesday with its Additional Director Ahmedul Kabir in the chair. The meeting underscored the need for strengthening vigilance on the activities of clinics and diagnostic centres across the country.

The clinics and diagnostic centres that have not applied for licence will be considered as illegal, according to the DGHS.

There are around 11,000 legal clinics and diagnostic centres in the country at present, officials concerned said.

“Drive to shut illegal clinics and diagnostics is going on across the country and we will sit with the officials concerned including divisional health directors and civil surgeons after ending the timeframe to take the next course of action,” Belal Hossain, director (hospital and clinic), told the media this noon.

The drive is being carried out based on the list prepared by the district level civil surgeons, the government official said.

He said the crackdown on the illegal clinics and diagnostic centres will continue in connivance with the local administration and law enforcement agencies.

As per the DGHS rules, the activities of the clinics and diagnostic centres have got registrations but did not renew it within the specific timeframe.

The measures including cancellation of licence will be taken if any clinics or diagnostic centres use anaesthesia without consent of any registered physician in performing operation of patients, he said.

The health institutions who have applied for registration will not be allowed to run its activities until they get the licence, according to the decision.