THE news that unlicensed diagnostic centres and private hospitals have been operating in Chittagong and, by extension, in the capital and other regions of the country does not surprise anyone. What does come as a surprise, though, is that the authorities have so far proved unable to cope with the problem, with the result that such centres and hospitals have been operating with impunity. What is true of the more than 1,000 diagnostic centres and private hospitals in Chittagong is also true of other such unauthorized institutions in the country. In almost every instance, these centres and hospitals begin functioning without waiting for their applications for licences to be approved by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). That is a clear violation of the law, criminal in nature, and clearly calls for action. It helps little that mobile courts go around twice a month, fine centres they find guilty of such transgressions and come away. These centres, having paid the fines, go back to work as if nothing has happened.

There is little question that these centres and hospitals, not just in Chittagong but elsewhere as well, are simply money spinning machines for organized groups of unscrupulous people. In very many instances, untrained and unskilled people instead of qualified medical practitioners are found manning these institutions. That not only violates ethics but is also a grave danger to public health, especially of unsuspecting and innocent citizens who have no way of finding out the nature of the working of these organized gangs. So the facts are all out there. Besides, there have been occasions when these centres and hospitals have offered wrong diagnoses to patients, with predictably horrific results. What now is required is for the authorities to take severe, sustained action against these so-called diagnostic centres and private hospitals and put them out of action.

Action is also required elsewhere. The DGHS must be taken to task for looking the other way despite knowing how openly these centres work without waiting for their licences to be granted or approved. Public health is a crucial factor in socio-economic life. Letting it fall prey to the predatory