The government has suspended permission of conducting Covid-19 tests in five private hospitals and diagnostic centres in the country.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on Sunday afternoon issued separate letters to the five health facilities in this regard as they are yet to begin the testing procedure.
The organizations are Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital, CARe Medical College, Stemz Healthcare, and Thyrocare Diagnostic in Dhaka, and Epic Health Care in Chittagong.
The letter, signed by DGHS Additional Director General (Administration) Prof Nasima Sultana, also the president of the technical committee on Covid-19 laboratory investigation, said although the health facilities were permitted to conduct RT-PCR tests, they have so far failed to start operations.
The health facilities may apply for permission again to run Covid-19 tests after being fully prepared with RT-PCR lab facilities, it said.
The organizations have to collect the no-objection letter of Covid-19 RT-PCR machine and imported kits from the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) and steps will be taken later as per the inspection report, it added.