Some 35 non-compliant and unauthorised healthcare facilities were sealed off on the first day of countrywide crackdown on the errant hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres, officials said.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) launched Monday the drive as part of its objective to ensure compliance and quality services in medicare facilities.
According to the information provided by the DGHS till 8:10pm, a total of 28 healthcare facilities were shut on the first day.
Of them, eight were in Dhaka metropolitan area, seven in Chattogram, seven in Sherpur and thirteen in Jhenaidah.
When contacted, DGHS Director (Hospitals/Clinics) Dr Belal Hossain said they have sealed off eight healthcare centres in Dhaka Metropolitan Area.
These include Khilgaon General Hospital, Central Basabo General Hospital, Matuail's Kanak General Hospital, Shanir Akhra's Salman Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Bakshibazar's Khidmah Life Care Diagnostic Center, Chankharpool's Dhaka General Hospital, Banani's Hair Transplant Cosmetic Surgery Consultancy and Diagnostic Center and Dhaka Pain and Spine Centre.
"We're collecting information of the raids in other parts of the country but it has not been completed yet," he said.
Seeking anonymity, another DGHS official said they received information of shutting 7 such units in Chattogram and 13 others in Jhenaidah.
But the first day's activities were not as rigorous as announced by the directorate as civil surgeons in various districts could not operate the raid because of their pre-scheduled meeting at the divisional headquarters.
Talking to the FE, Dhaka divisional office chief of the DGHS Dr Farid Hossain Miah said the civil surgeons of the districts under the division could not start the drive as they come to Dhaka to attend a pre-scheduled meeting.
"I think they will be able to launch the raid from tomorrow (Wednesday)," he added.
This is the second time the DGHS launched the crackdown in three months. In the previous crackdown, a total of 1,641 health facilities were closed in the last campaign.
As a result of the campaign, the directorate earned revenue amounting to over Tk 250 million from the registration application.
During the last three months, some 1489 healthcare units got license and 2930 licenses were renewed.
On the other hand, 1,986 other institutions are awaiting inspection for new licenses while 2,887 institutions are awaiting inspection for license renewal.
UNB adds in Sherpur on the first day of its 'recommenced' drive against illegal or unregistered clinics/healthcare centres, DGHS Monday sealed shut seven such illegal clinics and diagnostic centres in Sherpur district alone on Monday.
The hospitals were sealed during a drive conducted in Sherpur's Sadar upazila, led by Civil Surgeon Dr Anupam Bhattacharya.
The institutes announced shut are Bandhan Diagnostic Centre, RH Diagnostic Centre, New Insaf Diagnostic Centre, Siddik Diagnostic Centre, Syria Diagnostic Centre, Central Diagnostic Centre, and lastly New Life Private Hospital & Diagnostic Centre.
"Institutes that have been running hospital businesses completely disregarding any registration requisites, have been shut, said Dr Anupam.
"The institutes with expired licenses have been asked to renew these as soon as possible. Our drive against illegal clinics and diagnostic centres will continue," he added.
