A total of 83 private clinics and diagnostic centres in Khulna division are operating without renewed licences. Even though the deadline was extended, these institutes failed to apply for licence renewal but still continued their operations.
Of these 83 institutes, 10 clinics and six diagnostic centres are from the metropolis while 25 clinics and 42 diagnostic centres are from other districts.
Health officials said the drive to close down unregistered clinics and diagnostic centres will begin once they receive directives from the department.
Khulna Divisional Health Officer Dr Rasheda Sultana confirmed the matter.
According to the Khulna Divisional Health Department, there are 194 clinics and diagnostics centres in the metropolis -- 76 clinics and 118 diagnostic centres. Of which, 10 clinics and six diagnostic centres did not apply for renewal of registration within the stipulated time.
Meanwhile, five clinics and 33 diagnostic centres have applied for registration as new institutions in the metropolis. Till August 23, online registration applications of 66 new institutions in the metropolis were verified and selected.
At least 25 out of 50 private clinics and 34 out of 76 diagnostic centres have applied for renewal of registration in the upazilas under Khulna civil surgeon.
It is learned that most of the hospitals do not want to renew their registration as they do not have the required documents.
However, the hospital owners claim that since 2018, additional registration fees, cancellation of the power to renew registrations at divisional level, and the slow pace of renewal by the Department of Health has left many institutions unregistered.
Khulna Divisional President of Bangladesh Private Hospital Clinic and Diagnostic Owners Association Dr Gazi Mizanur Rahman said registration and renewal fees have increased abnormally since 2018.
The registration and renewal fees for private medical colleges and diagnostic pathology were increased by almost 40 times, he added.
In addition, the power to renew the registrations has been removed from the divisional level and given to the Department of Health, where there is no immediate response to the online applications. It is too much pressure on them to register all the clinics and diagnostic centres across the country, said Dr Gazi.
Due to this, the registration of many clinics and diagnostic centres in Khulna could not be renewed since 2018, he added.
