The alarming state of private healthcare

It is deeply concerning that thousands of private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres across the country continue to operate without renewing their licences, largely due to inadequate monitoring by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Reportedly, out of 19,627 registered private hospitals and clinics, only 914, or just 4.66 percent, renewed their licences as of April 27. The previous year saw slightly better compliance, with 2,754 facilities renewing their licences. Likewise, only 1,790 of the 35,597 registered private diagnostic centres—around 5 percent—have completed their renewals this year, compared to 5,735 last fiscal year. This situation poses serious risks to patient well-being and safety, treatment quality and overall service standards, as well as hygiene in these facilities. A lack of oversight by the authorities could also lead to the use of substandard medical equipment or unsafe practices, as experts have warned.

Read more

The health sector needs a complete overhaul

According to the acting president of the Bangladesh Private Hospital, Clinic, and Diagnostic Owners Association, 90 percent of hospitals and diagnostic centres have applied for renewal this fiscal year. However, the process faces delays due to the limited inspection capacity of the DGHS. The requirement for environmental and narcotics clearance further slows down the renewal process. Previously, facilities could submit proof that they had applied for clearance, which was considered sufficient for licence renewal. However, a recent policy change now mandates the submission of an environmental clearance certificate, adding another obstacle to timely renewals.

The authorities' failure to conduct inspections efficiently has also allowed some healthcare providers to exploit the system, submitting renewal applications without necessary or up-to-date documents while continuing operations unchecked. This issue demands immediate attention. Over the past two decades, private healthcare facilities have proliferated across the country, mainly due to gaps in the public healthcare system. Unfortunately, many of these hospitals prioritise profits over patient care, treating healthcare as a secondary concern. Some even operate without the required credentials, a situation made worse by the inefficiency of the regulatory bodies. Without regular renewals, maintaining quality healthcare will become increasingly difficult.

Read more

We must be bold with health sector reforms

A renewed licence ensures that a healthcare facility has the necessary manpower, equipment, and operational standards in place. Therefore, we urge the DGHS to expand its inspection team and improve resource allocation to ensure thorough evaluations of these institutions. While the renewal process should be simplified to avoid unnecessary hassles, private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres must still comply with standard procedures and submit proper up-to-date documents. Additionally, the DGHS must proactively scrutinise the thousands of private healthcare facilities that have mushroomed across the country over the years. And institutions failing to meet required standards should have their licences revoked to uphold healthcare integrity and protect patient welfare across the country.