In the wake of the ongoing drive against irregularities in private healthcare facilities, a total of around 12,000 applications have been submitted for new licences as well as renewal of existing ones through online system by private hospitals, clinics, diagnostics centres and blood banks across the country.
However, about 4,400 private healthcare providing institutions have got licence from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) while over 8,000 are yet to get licence till Sunday, DGHS sources said.
The health and family welfare ministry recently issued a directive for the country’s private hospitals, clinics, diagnostics centres and blood banks to renew their licences within August 23.
“Following the strong directive, the countrywide private healthcare facilities have made a move. We have already sent letters to district civil surgeons and divisional directors in this regard,” Dr Md Farid Hossain Miah, director (hospital) of DGHS, told.
Asked whether the deadline to apply for new licences as well as their renewal will be extended, he said: “We want information about the private hospitals, clinics, diagnostics centres and blood banks within August 23.”
Asked about number of applications and licenced healthcare providing institutions across the country, Farid said: “I can’t give this number at this moment as DGHS headquarters is now without power.”
An official of DGHS said a total of around 12,000 applications have been submitted for new licences and their renewal till August 16 while 4,395 have already got new permission till the day.
Inspection of around 1,100 institutions has already been completed before awarding licences while around 2,100 cases are pending for inspection. Around 3,700 applications remain pending to complete the process while around 2,500 new applications have been submitted till yesterday, he added.
A director level official of DGHS, wishing not to be named, said the health directorate earlier also asked the private healthcare providing institutions to come under a regulatory framework, but most of them didn’t pay any heed to it.
“In the awake of stern action by the government, they are now rushing for new licences.”
The law enforcement agencies and health directorate recently conducted drives against some private hospitals including Regent Hospital, JKG Healthcare and Shahabuddin Medical College in the capital and took stern action against them for their brazen irregularities in providing healthcare services.
The government has introduced an online licencing process and automation system for registration and renewal of licences of private hospitals, clinics, blood banks, nursing homes and diagnostic centres in 2018 in a bid to check irregularities.
It also raised registration and annual licence renewal fees for private healthcare facilities with effect from 2018-19 fiscal year. The health ministry had also issued a circular in this regard on September 4 in 2018.
According to the circular, fees have been fixed based on categories and will vary from area to area and also depending on bed numbers.
The DGHS sources said a number of private hospitals and clinics and also diagnostic centers had been operating without licences.
Talking to reporters on August 9, Md Abdul Mannan, secretary to the health services division of health and family welfare ministry, said the deadline for application to renew the licences for private hospitals has been set for August 23.
If any hospital fails to renew its licence within the deadline, necessary disciplinary action will be taken against it, he added.
Drives against irregularities and corruption in hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres across the country will continue, Mannan said, adding that “The task force will carry out operation as soon as allegations of irregularities or corruptions will be received. The drives will not stop even for a minute.”
However, the health ministry sources said the deadline for application to renew the licence for private hospitals may be extended.
