HC directs pvt clinics, hospitals to display fees, charges at public places

The High Court today directed the private clinics, hospitals, clinical laboratories and diagnostic centres to put in display their charges and fees fixed for medical tests at public places.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam today came up with the order.

The HC bench came up with the rule after hearing of a writ petition filed by human rights lawyers and Securing Environment Society of Bangladesh seeking the court’s order so that the private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres run well.

The HC directed the health secretary, director general of the Directorate of Health Services and Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council to make the order effective in the next 15 days.

In response to the writ petition, the HC also asked the health secretary, director general of the Directorate of Health Services and Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council to form a committee in this regard under the Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982 in 60 days from the receipt of the order.

The court also issued a rule asking the health secretary, director general of the Directorate of Health Services and Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council to explain in four weeks why they should not be ordered to take steps for setting up ICU/CCU units in all the hospitals at the district headquarters and to require license for establishing diagnostic centres and clinical laboratories.

Health secretary, director general of the Directorate of Health Services and the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, inspector general of police and director general of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) have been made respondents to the rule.

The bench fixed October 7 for passing further order on this issue.

Advocate Bashir Ahmed appeared for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Masud Hasan Chowdhury Parag represented the government.