Bangladesh shuts down 1227 illegal hospitals, clinics

The government has closed down 1227 illegal private clinics, hospitals, and diagnostic centres across the country in the past month to ensure patients’ safety, Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen said on Sunday.

“We do not want to shut down any legal private clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centres. But those must be operated with adequate staff and equipment. Otherwise, I’ll enforce a zero-tolerance policy,” he said while talking to the journalist at a press conference at the secretariat in Dhaka.

During the pre-scheduled press conference, Minister Sen addressed various healthcare-related issues, emphasizing the importance of the safety of the patient and healthcare providers.

“Just as I am thinking about the safety of patients, I am equally concerned about the safety of healthcare professionals,” he said, adding, “Good healthcare requires good doctors. Without adequate facilities, it becomes challenging to find good doctors.” Daily Sun