Private hospitals availing duty-free benefit on import of medical equipments under condition of providing free health services to the poor people would be brought under scanner of the Customs intelligence team, the revenue board chief said Thursday.
The Customs would scrutinise whether the modern medical machinery is being used for the healthcare services for common people or business purposes, National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman Md Nojibur Rahman said at a press briefing held at the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate in the city.
"I have instructed the Customs intelligence team to monitor whether the hospitals are abiding by the conditionality on availing the duty-free import of modern medical equipments," he added.
Currently, some 14 private hospitals are availing 'referral hospital' facility to import medical equipments and machinery under duty-free facility.
However, there is no such condition in the Customs law against the tax-benefit on providing free treatment to the poor patients.
Responding to a query on amending the existing rules, the NBR chairman said the rules can be amended if needed.
The NBR will work with the Ministry of Health to work on this issue, he said.
"Hospitals that are enjoying the tax waiver on import of its machinery with a condition to provide free-of-cost treatment to the poor patients would be monitored to see whether they are using the equipments commercially," he added.
The NBR chairman also vowed to expedite settlement of pending cases involving large amounts of revenue.
Director General (DG) of Customs intelligence Dr Moinul Khan and other senior officials of the directorate attended the press briefing.
The Customs intelligence DG said his team will be encouraged with the visit of NBR chief.
After long 10 years, a NBR chairman visited the directorate, he added.
The directorate presented a paper on its performance and achievements to the newsmen.
In fiscal year (FY) 2013-14, the wing had seized 565.71 kilogram of gold worth Tk 2.56 billion. Until now in the current FY, it seized 251 kg valued at Tk 1.25 billion.
It filed criminal cases against 122 persons and arrested 108 in the last one and half years.
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