5 units of 2 Cox's Bazar hospitals sealed due to irregularities

The Union Hospital, a private hospital in Cox's Bazar, introduced its 6-bed intensive care unit (ICU) despite getting no approval, or having no expert doctor, obviously violating the existing laws.

Existing regulations were not followed in setting up the operation theatre, city scan and post-operative department. Registration of various departments is not renewed. The hospital authorities even do not renew the registration of different departments. The hospital was running with so many irregularities.

Health Minister Dr Samant Lal Sen visited this hospital in Cox's Bazar on Friday. Witnessing various mismanagement and irregularities at the hospital during the visit, he ordered to take quick action against all irregularities.

On Saturday, a day after the minister's visit, the local health directorate and district administration conducted a raid and sealed up the ICU, operation theatre, post-operative and CT scan of the Union Hospital.

Executive Magistrate of the district administration Tazmin Alam Tuli and Sadar Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Titu Chandra Sheel led the raid.

Later, the team raided another private hospital called General Hospital where the hospital's ECG department was sealed as its operation was unauthorised.

After the raid, Dr Titu Chandra Sheel told the media, “As part of the countrywide raids against irregularities in hospitals, we also conducted raids at two private hospitals in Cox’s Bazar. All hospitals will be raided in phases.”

Asked why the raid was conducted after the minister's visit, he avoided the question in various ways.

In reply to a query over whether all departments of Union Hospital have approval or registration, he claimed that everything is fine. But, a reliable source on condition of anonymity, said that not a single department of the hospital has renewed its registration.