17 of 21 hospitals in Kaliganj yet to renew licences

Most private clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centres in Kaliganj, Gazipur, are operating without renewed licences and environmental clearance, raising concerns over patient safety and the quality of healthcare services.

According to the Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer’s office, only four of the 21 registered private healthcare facilities in the upazila had renewed their licences for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Many others are continuing operations with expired licences.

Local residents have raised concerns over inadequate monitoring of these facilities, including the availability of qualified doctors, medical staff, necessary equipment and emergency services.

Several facilities have also faced fines and closures over alleged regulatory violations.

On March 12, 2025, Jorina Clinic in Jamalpur Union was fined Tk50,000 and sealed after failing to produce documents related to its approval.

More recently, Nuba General Hospital at Basair Bazar in Jamalpur was fined Tk50,000 for failing to show adequate equipment and necessary documents in its operating theatre during a mobile court drive.

Kaliganj Diagnostic Hospital was also fined Tk20,000 after expired reagents were found in its pathology laboratory.

Private clinics and hospitals provide healthcare services to a large number of people alongside government facilities. However, questions remain over whether the authorities regularly inspect their licences, medical facilities, staffing, service standards and patient safety arrangements.

According to the Gazipur Civil Surgeon’s Office, licences for private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres were supposed to be valid for two years from the 2026-27 fiscal year. However, the plan has not been implemented due to various complications.

New facilities are also required to meet applicable conditions, including obtaining environmental clearance.

Several patients seeking treatment at private facilities, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the authorities should regularly verify the number of doctors and nurses, availability of medical equipment, emergency arrangements, approved bed capacity, permission for surgical procedures, waste management and hygiene standards.

They also stressed the need to monitor whether patients are charged government-approved fees and whether diagnostic test results are reliable.

They said special attention was needed for maternal and newborn healthcare, while facilities should have arrangements for the safe and prompt transfer of patients to other hospitals in emergencies.

There are also allegations that the upazila health department lacks adequate information on the total number of operational private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres, the number holding valid licences, those with expired licences and facilities facing complaints.

Representatives of civil society said healthcare was a fundamental right and that patient safety and lives should take precedence over commercial interests.

They called for greater accountability among private healthcare providers and effective monitoring by the health authorities.

Asked about licence renewals, Gazipur Civil Surgeon Dr Md Mamunur Rahman told this correspondent over the phone that several applications for renewal had been submitted, but complications with documentation had prevented the authorities from renewing the licences.

He said he would ask the local administration and Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO) to strengthen monitoring.

“We will soon inspect private clinics and hospitals and take necessary legal action,” he said.