Tourist Desk: From routine tests to surgeries, patients are facing additional costs in almost every area, while there are complaints about the quality of services. At the same time, the risk of wrong treatment is increasing at an alarming rate as complaints of incorrect reports are increasing at various diagnostic centers.In such a situation, various questions have also been raised about the role of the Chittagong Civil Surgeon’s Office, which is responsible for supervision. Those concerned say that due to the lack of regular monitoring and strict measures, irregularities are becoming the norm. Although there is talk of conducting raids from time to time, its impact is not very visible in reality. Rather, there are allegations that effective action is not being taken against irregularities in many cases. As a result, the lives of patients are being threatened.The supervisory agency itself does not have specific information on how many private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers are operating in Chittagong. Although information on 221 licensed institutions is available on the website of the Directorate General of Health Services. However, those concerned say that in reality this number is more than 550. This means that a large number of institutions are either unlicensed or operating with expired licenses.Parkview Hospital is one of the most well-known private hospitals in Chittagong. Many specialist doctors see patients here, which is why it has long been known as a place of trust for many. However, recently various complaints have come to light surrounding the hospital. Questions are being raised about the institution’s activities due to excessive billing compared to the quality of services and incorrect treatment. The most talked about incident took place on March 3. It has been alleged that two newborns suffered serious injuries during delivery, such as the skulls being severed. This incident created a sensation throughout Chittagong. When asked about the incident, a floor in-charge of Parkview Hospital, on condition of anonymity, said, “On that day (March 3), two newborns were beheaded during delivery. The hospital authorities managed to cover up the morning incident by managing the patient party. But the afternoon incident became known due to the relatives of the newborns. Then the morning incident also came to light.”Rubel Majumder, the father of the newborn whose scalp was cut, said that when he picked up the baby after birth, a cut mark was visible on the scalp. When the matter was immediately reported to the doctors and hospital authorities, they initially denied the allegations. Alamgir Hossain, a relative of a patient seeking treatment at Parkview Hospital, told Dhaka Post, “I admitted my father here for immediate treatment. I could not find a cabin below Tk 5,000. The cost of various tests is also much higher than at other hospitals.”Another well-known diagnostic company in Chittagong, Chevron Clinical Laboratory, has also been accused of multiple irregularities at different times. During an inspection by the Health Department, six irregularities were identified in the company, including making blood slides with uncertified personnel, conducting X-ray activities by incompetent technologists, lack of proof of online reports, and inconsistencies in the preparation of blood reports. In addition, allegations of providing reports in the name of deceased doctors and collecting excess money also came to light. Although a letter seeking explanation was sent in the wake of these allegations, no effective disciplinary action was seen. Health sector officials say that if such irregularities are alleged in large institutions, the situation in small institutions can be easily predicted. There are allegations of recruitment of patients through brokers against a diagnostic center called ‘Genetic Lab’ adjacent to the West Gate of Chittagong Medical College Hospital. It is said that patients are lured there from various wards and outpatient departments of the hospital. Locals allege that the institution was closed administratively several times, but later reopened. A patient named Ashraful Islam Riduan has been facing difficulties while undergoing several medical tests including an X-ray at the Metro Diagnostic Center at Goalpahara intersection in the city. He told Dhaka Post that he had to face inconvenience while taking a blood sample and getting an X-ray done. After a long wait, he was called for an X-ray. After entering the room, he was told that the machine was being disturbed. He had to wait outside for a while. He was doubtful whether the X-ray machine would give a proper report due to the disturbance. But since he had paid for the entry earlier, he was forced to have an X-ray done. Nurul Amin recently admitted his son’s wife to Poly Hospital in Panchlaish area of the city for delivery. Lamenting the lack of a doctor at night during the patient’s difficult time, he said, “Though it cost more money to admit her here, considering the various sufferings in the government hospital. But when my son’s wife started having pain at 2:30 in the morning, there was no doctor. We were very worried because there was no doctor. Nevertheless, by the grace of God, the delivery was safe.”There are more than fifty small and large hospitals and diagnostic centers in the area adjacent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital alone. Most of the buildings of these institutions do not have parking spaces. When visiting these areas, it can be seen that the entrance to the parking lot of Max Hospital in Mehedibagh has been closed with iron chains. Many institutions including Medical Center, CSCR, Metro Diagnostic, Popular Diagnostic Center, Ibn Sina Lab, LabAid, etc., did not have parking facilities for patients. Due to which traffic jams are created in the areas around these institutions. According to the prevailing laws of Bangladesh, in order to operate a private hospital, clinic or diagnostic center, it is mandatory to obtain a proper license, maintain prescribed standards and employ trained doctors and technicians. Operating healthcare activities without a license or in violation of the conditions is a punishable offense. Similarly, if allegations of providing false reports or conducting medical activities with incompetent manpower are proven, there are provisions for legal action, including cancellation of the license of the concerned institution. However, in reality, there are allegations that these laws are not being effectively implemented in many cases. While raising questions about the weakness of the supervision system, serious allegations have also been made against the supervision officers themselves. Although the Civil Surgeon’s Office is supposed to regularly supervise private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers to ensure the quality of services, the concerned people have alleged that the real picture in Chittagong is different. They claim that in many cases, supervision activities are not carried out regularly, and rather, obstacles are created in conducting operations on irregularities. Sometimes, there have been incidents of interference in the operations of the district administration’s mobile court. In July last year, during an operation at a private hospital in the city, the concerned officials of the Civil Surgeon’s Office were contacted and objected to the operation and fines. Some private institutions have also alleged that administrative pressure is being used to influence decisions. An official of a diagnostic institution, who asked not to be named, claimed that pressure was exerted to open a branch in a specific area and that the institution was later raided and sued for not agreeing to it. There are also allegations that licenses are issued or renewed in some institutions without on-site inspections, and in some cases, additional pressure is created in the name of supervision. Similar allegations have been made about institutions set up around government hospitals, said those concerned. The latest allegation is that many small diagnostic labs and clinics with illegal or expired licenses are operating in various areas of Chittagong through ‘management’. Multiple sources claim that these institutions are not closed down but are kept open regularly through informal coordination with the supervisory authorities. At the same time, there are also allegations of receiving money from some large institutions at different times in the name of donations or cooperation. To find out about this, on Friday (March 3), the president of the Chittagong Private Hospital Owners Association and the managing director of Chittagong Metropolitan Hospital, Dr. A.K.M. Fazlul Haque, was contacted. He said that he was in a program that day and advised to contact him the next day. However, he did not respond to calls made the next day. Chittagong Civil Surgeon Dr. Jahangir Alam told Dhaka Post, “We closed a lab in Karnaphuli on Thursday. We conducted a drive in three institutions in the metropolis. We warned them, including Chevron in Halishahar, where we found irregularities. The divisional health director was also there. Our drive is continuing.” He said, “We are a little busy with the measles outbreak now. However, we will continue the regular campaign. We have held a meeting with the hospital-diagnostic authorities regarding the measles outbreak. Instructions have been given so that no measles patients are neglected.” When asked about the newborn’s skull being cut at Parkview Hospital, Dr. Jahangir Alam said, “We have received a complaint about this. The hospital has been asked about it. They said that the incident happened inadvertently. They explained it to the child’s guardian. Nevertheless, we have strongly said that such an incident should not happen again.”