TUHIN SHUBHRA ADHIKARY

A 50-bed hospital is operating with only one duty doctor, with no emergency department. Its licence expired in June 2025.

Another facility, approved as a diagnostic centre to conduct only basic tests, has been providing services beyond its jurisdiction. It has also been running a blood bank without approval for the past year.

At a separate diagnostic centre, inspectors found expired reagents being used for tests. Test reports lacked the signature of a designated physician, and no patient records were maintained.

These facilities relied on paid brokers to bring in patients from Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Patients, many from low-income backgrounds, were reportedly compelled to use substandard services in exchange for money.

The irregularities came to light during a drive conducted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), in association with the Dhaka District Administration, yesterday targeting errant private hospitals, diagnostic centres and blood banks in the Chankharpool area.

As similar irregularities were reported at four other facilities on the second day of drives, the authorities shut down two hospitals, four diagnostic centres and one blood bank. Two of the facilities were also fined by a mobile court.

The drive was launched after the health administration on Monday sealed Doctor’s Care Hospital and Diagnostic Centre in the capital’s Shyamoli over various irregularities.

DGHS Director (Hospital) Abu Hussain Md. Moinul Ahsan, who led the drive, said they would continue the drive against the rogue facilities.

The health ministry yesterday directed divisional and district-level health administrators to launch countrywide drives against errant private hospitals, diagnostic centres and blood banks in The

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