DoE scraps clearance of 26 hospitals, 12 diagnotic centres

The Department of Environment (DoE) in Chattogram has suspended environmental clearance certificates of 26 hospitals and 12 diagnostic centres for not having updated license from the Directorate General of Health Services.

The hospitals and diagnostic centres have been operating for the last two to four years without DGHS license, according to DoE.

Mohammad Nurullah Nuri, director of DoE Chattogram (Metro), told The Daily Star that they issued letters to all diagnostic centres and private hospitals asking them to appear at DoE with updated DGHS certificate to renew their Environment Clearance Certificate (ECC).

"We found many of them don't have any updated DGHS license. It creates scope for irregularities and malpractice. That's is why we suspended their ECC", he added.

Contacted, Mohammad Sha Jaman, director of Organ Hospital -- one of the hospitals whose clearance was suspended -- told The Daily Star they applied for updating their license but it got stuck at DGHS.

Sheikh Fazle Rabbi, civil surgeon of Chattogram, told this newspaper sometimes the application filed by hospitals and diagnostic centres gets stuck at DGHS for many reasons.

During the pandemic, it was tough to inspect those hospitals and diagnostic centres, he added.

"We are working to prepare a list of hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers whether they have updated their license or not by August 23. Then we will go for action against them", he added.