Patients hostage to pvt hospitals

in Dhaka

SHAMSUL BASUNIA

High Court in Bangladesh observed that private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres were acting arbitrarily in absence of any guideline to regulate them. The bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam also gave the Directorate General of Health Services director general fresh time until October 7 to prepare the guidelines for operation of private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres as well as private practice beyond their offices. The health services directorate also gave fresh time to revise all fees for different health services including medical tests and surgery at private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres. The bench extended the deadline to implement the High Court’s directives to frame the guideline and revise the price chart of health services, as the directorate failed to comply with its directives and prayed for more time, stating that the designated officer working with an expert committee on the issue was suffering from COVID-19.    

Earlier on September 1, the High Court asked the directorate to submit the progress report to the court on September 23.