Hundreds of patients and their attendants are being deceived and cheated by the name of treatment in various clinics and diagnostic centres in Kishoreganj. There is none to intervene or take action against the unauthorized clinics and the health centres. Even, the Department of Health of the district is found reluctant to take any action in this connection.
It is seen, beside or around the government-run hospitals in every upazila, many private diagnostic centres or clinics have mushroomed. Especially, beside or around the 250-bed Kishoreganj General Hospital and the Shahid Nazrul Islam Medical College Hospital, many such unauthorised, low-quality clinics and diagnostic centres have been set up. Most of these clinics and the diagnostics, are being run under no government rules and without required manpower. Patients are being maltreated and cheated there. But, no active measure is being taken to inspect the activities or to control the quality of treatment at those clinics and the diagnosis centres.
According to sources, there are 178 diagnostic centres in Kishoreganj district of which only 10 have their licences. Two of those are closed. There are also 51 private Hospitals and clinics of which three hospitals and clinics have no licenses and eight of those are waiting for inspection and registration. According to the sources of the Civil Surgeon of Kishoreganj, most of the legal private clinics and diagnostics have no healthy or clean environment, No clean Pathological setup and no infrastructure as per the government policy. Yet those institutions got government registration and the registrations are also being renewed.
Those low- quality clinics and health centres were cheating the patients by the name of 'improved treatment'. Those private clinics and hospitals are run under the control of influential doctors, nurses and local influential people. As a result, the Department of Health also remained helpless to take any action against those. According to sources, the X-ray Machines of Al Safi Diagnostic Centre and the Haji Diagnostic Centres have been put under the rooms made of corrugated tin roof. The local people and the patients are being exposed to radiation of the machines.
Recently, during a drive conducted by the health department officials, Meghna Diagnostic Centres and the Jamuna Diagnostic Centre at the Station Road of the district town found fridgeful of date expired Reagents being used to conduct various medical tests of the patients. Both the diagnostic centres were fined Taka 100,000 each for using such date-expired reagents. Earlier, in 2023, the Health Care Diagnostic and Consultation Centre was fined Taka 40,000 for using date-expired reagents and the Siam Diagnostic Centre was fined Taka 10,000 for realising excess charges from the patients.
Meanwhile, the closed Al Hera Digital Diagnostic Centres and Hospital has restarted its operation again. The clinic was closed and sealed by the concerned authorities following the death of the patient Rupali Akhter (22) during an erroneous Cesarian operation last year. It is learnt, due to pressure from the influential quarters, the families of the deceased patient were forced to withdraw the case and after the withdrawal of the case, the hospital restarted its operation.
Saiful Islam, the Civil Surgeon of Kishoreganj failed to supply any information in connection with the number of drives conducted against the illegal clinics and the diagnostic centres in the district during the last one year. He said, no information is stored in this connection and the report of every month's drive is sent to the Department of Health.
Sources informed, there are many clinics and diagnostic centres beside and around the Kishoreganj 250-bed Genaral Hospital. Those clinics and the diagnostics through their agents convinced the patients and their attendants to take treatment and to conduct various tests in their concerned clinics terming the treatment and tests at the government hospitals were of low quality and they should get an improved treatment and the medical tests at the private clinics.
Syed Yeasin, a Representative of Elite Society informed people should avoid the clinics serving low-quality treatment and medical tests.
Kamruzzaman Khuku, Organising Secretary of Kishoreganj Society of Health Services informed, directives have been given from the organisation to render quality health care services, improve the quality of Health and operate the clinics and the hospital by following the government policy and keep the services close of those institutions which tenure of licenses have been expired. He further informed a machine for disposed of materials management will be set up at a cost of Taka 30 million.
Saiful Islam, Civil Surgeon of Kishoreganj said, the Civil Surgeon was determined and working to ensure quality health care services with the district administration and the police administration. He added, there was no alternative to ensure Health care services.
Abul Kalam Azad, Deputy Commissioner informed, the district administration earlier conducted drives against various diagnostic centres and clinics. It is a regular process and if any definite allegation is found, drives will also be conducted against the diagnostics and the clinics.
