The High Court yesterday directed the government to submit a list of intensive and coronary care units at hospitals across the country by April 24.

It asked the health ministry and the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to submit a report in this regard and finalise the rules for setting up and running private clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centres by this time.

They were also ordered to include the manpower and the number of specialists needed for an ICU and a CCU, and the cost of setting up such a unit in the report.

The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam came up with the order while hearing a writ filed by Human Rights Lawyers and Securing Environment Society of Bangladesh.

During the hearing, petitioner's lawyer Bashir Ahmed appealed for passing an order on the government to set up ICUs and CCUs at all hospitals so that patients could get proper treatment.

Earlier in the day, Deputy Attorney General Motaher Hossain Saju submitted a draft of the rules prepared by the government for setting up and running private clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centres.

Replying to a query from the court, he said there are 72 ICUs at public hospitals across the country, and 30 of them are at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Motaher opposed Bashir's appeal, saying that a huge amount of money and several expert doctors and manpower were needed for setting up and running an ICU and a CCU.

The country is not poor now and the healthcare services are improving, the HC said.   

The court also mentioned that renowned Indian cardiologist Dr Devi Shetty appreciated healthcare services in Bangladesh, but those were not so visible.

Human Rights Lawyers and Securing Environment Society of Bangladesh submitted the petition in July last year, seeking necessary orders from the HC so that private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres run well.

Following the petition, the court on July 24 directed the private clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centres to display the charts of their charges and fees in public view.

Health secretary, DGHS director general and Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council have been asked to execute the order.

The court also issued a rule asking the respondents to explain within four weeks why they should not be ordered to take steps for setting up ICU/CCU units in all the general hospitals at district headquarters.

It also asked them to explain why they should not be ordered to take steps so that licences are collected from the authorities for establishing diagnostic centres and clinical laboratories.

Health secretary, DGHS director general, Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, the inspector general of police and the director general of Rapid Action Battalion have been made respondents.

On February 19 this year, the HC wanted to know from the health secretary and the DGHS director general about the progress of fixing charges and fees of private clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centres and displaying their charts in public view.

The court also sought a report on the update for framing rules for running those organisations.

It also ordered the health secretary to submit the progress report by March 5 and fixed yesterday for passing further order on this issue.