They said just launching a occasional crackdown with prior announcement will not bring expected outcomes, and warned that the so-called service providers who consider healthcare as a mere commodity would come back again at a suitable time.
Talking to the FE, the healthcare experts have suggested the government concentrate more on regular monitoring through empowering the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) with more manpower.
When contacted, Secretary General of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA) Dr. Md. Ehteshamul Huq Choudhury appreciated the move and said the initiative should have been taken much earlier.
He also pointed out that the DGHS lacks manpower to continue such a drive throughout the year for ensuring compliance in both public and private healthcare facilities.
Talking about the existing Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, he suggested rationalising the law.
According to the ordinance, he said that one doctor and three diploma nurses are needed for a 10-bed hospital, but where we will get too many diploma nurses for too many hospitals.
On the other hand, each diagnostic unit needs to have a full-time radiologist and a pathologist, but the reality is different - even the government hospitals are not getting qualified professionals.
"So, we need to update these. We can allow part-time professionals for a certain period unless we can produce enough professionals," the BMA secretary general said.
Chairman of Dhaka Community Hospital Trust Professor Quazi Quamruzzaman said that the whole system needs to be decentralised with empowering divisional and district units to ensure regular monitoring.
He said there are many people who treat the healthcare service as a commodity and the regulator in most cases cannot monitor them due mainly to lack of enough manpower.
"This causes the problem. It cannot be solved only through launching occasional drives … regular inspection activities are needed."
DGHS director (Dhaka Division) Dr. Md. Farid Hossain Miah said they have been conducting drives at various locations against the unregistered hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and blood banks.
Admitting manpower shortage a major problem, he said they have been trying their best to ensure compliance. "Of course, we will look into the quality of services at the registered facilities, but let's shut the unauthorised ones first," he added.
According to the DGHS sources, there are some 13,000 registered private hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and blood banks.
Meanwhile, the DGHS has sealed off 538 unregistered hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres in the last four days across the country as on Sunday.
DGHS Director (hospital and clinic) Dr Md Belal Hossain said 164 of those are located in Dhaka. The number could be higher as information about some districts is yet to be updated, he added.
"The drive will continue for a few more days so that the unregistered ones and the ones fined for irregularities cannot come back again," he added.
Earlier on Wednesday last, the DGHS issued a 72-hour ultimatum to shut the unregistered private hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres and blood banks.
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