UNB, Khulna :
A good number of private clinics and diagnostic centres in the city are operating illegally taking advantage of lax monitoring by the authorities concerned.
Sources at the Khulna Divisional Health Director’s office said among 155 private clinics and diagnostic centres in Khulna city, only 36 have renewed their licenses while 29 are operating without licenses and 20 with un-renewed licenses.
Besides, some 65 clinics and diagnostic centres are awaiting licenses from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
The information about the private hospitals and pathological centres were found in an investigation carried out recently. The sources said though the health director’s office has the records of 155 (licensed and unlicensed) private medical centres in the metropolitan city, there is more such centres.
Set up without taking approval from the Directorate of Health, a number of private hospitals and diagnostic centres have been doing illegal business for long.
If any accident occurs in those illegally-run health centres, the liability does not fall on anybody.
Besides, allegations are rife that the private hospitals with approval from DGHS are not following the rules set by the authorities concerned.
During the investigation, it was found that the private clinics were running business even without following necessary rules like having expert doctors round the clock and nurses with diploma degrees.
Similarly, the pathological centres lack trained health technologists and necessary equipment.
Wishing anonymity, an X-ray technician of a diagnostic centre at 53, Babukhana Road in the city told UNB that he has been working at the diagnostic centre for about six months despite the fact that he did not receive any training related to his job.
According to sources at the Directorate of Health, the unlicensed private clinics and diagnostic centres in the city are-Holypath Diagnostic Centre in Daulatpur, Khulna Matrimangal and Seba Kendra on the Islampur Road, Dr M Amam-ullah Clinic on the Bhairob Stand Road, Lab Tech Diagnostic on the Haji Mohsin Road, Sheikh Diagnostic and Consultation Centre at Goalkhali, Nahid Diagnostic Centre on the Chhoto Boyra Madrasa Road, Thyroid Care and Diagnostic Centre at Shantidham intersection, Doctors Point Diagnostic Consultation Centre at Daulatpur, Light Specialised Hospital on the South Central Road, Heath Garden of Boyra, MR Diagnostic Centre at Basupara Banstola, SA Diagnostic Centre and Thyroid Centre on Ahsan Ahmed Road, Comfort Diagnostic Centre at Goalkhali, Nargis Memorial Hospital Pvt Ltd on South Central Road, United Diagnostic Centre and Consultation Centre on Babukhan Road, Khulna City Hospital on KDA Avenue, Ankur Diagnostic and Health Centre on Ahsan Ahmed Road, Desh Diagnostic Centre Babukhan Road, Khanjahan Ali Hospital and Diagnostic Centre Khan Jahan Ali Road, Ad-din Hospital (Blood Bank) at Boikali, Insaf Nursing Home on Rupsha Stand Road, Doctors Diagnostic Complex on Nirala Sher-e-Bangla Road, Boyra Central Clinic, Digital Diagnostic Centre at Khalishpur, Messer’s Doctors Diagnostic Centre, Ideal Nursing Home and Poly Clinic.
