A health ministry taskforce today conducted drives in two private hospitals in Gazipur and realised Tk 11 lakh in fines for a wide range of mismanagement and irregularities.

The taskforce carried out a raid in City Medical College Hospital in Chandana Chourasta area of Gazipur city and found it did not have a valid licence.

It also found expired surgical equipment and medicines in the operation theatre of the hospital.

Sarwoer Alam, executive magistrate of Rapid Action Battalion, fined the hospital Tk 7.50 lakh, our Gazipur correspondent reports quoting Umme Salma Tanzia, joint secretary (govt and non-govt hospital wing) of the health ministry.

She said the authorities of the private hospitals were ordered to renew their licences by August 23.

During another raid at Seba Clinic and Diagnostic Centre in the same area, the health ministry taskforce also found several irregularities including keeping expired medicine at the hospital.

Later, the Rab executive magistrate also fined the hospital Tk 3.50 lakh and realised it on the spot, the government official said.