Illegal diagnostic centres
it must be said
that the problem lies in good part with the governments inability to revamp the deplorable public healthcare system
According to a recent report published in a vernacular daily literally dozens of unlicensed diagnostic centres are currently operating in the countrys second largest city of Chittagong. This pathetic situation is not limited to the port city and its adjoining areas. As a matter of fact, numerous unlicensed diagnostic centres are operating throughout the country. These so-called diagnostic centres are not absolutely illegal and fleecing gullible patients. Quite interestingly, outside most of these centres, in order to attract patients, names and degrees of eminent physicians are on display. However, more often than not there is no chamber or sitting arrangement for them inside and the test reports on various diseases are signed by a health technician.
Not only diagnostic centres, allegedly there are many other health facilities operating without proper documents. As these facilities are not licensed they do not have the minimum standards necessary for running such a facility. They are not monitored by the concerned authorities and until detected these can literally get away with murder. The results obtained from these centres are usually faulty and are having serious repercussions on public health.
It is quite understandable that patients consulting these centres lose trust on the whole sector and opt for going abroad to get diagnosed and treated. Adding to the misery of the people is the fact that quacks continue to take advantage of the poor in society as unregulated clinics and drugs stores have sprouted across the country. People involved in these unscrupulous activities are not only cheating the patients, they are dodging huge tax annually as well. In the absence of reliable service in the public hospitals --- which are still far from being adequate --- patients go to private health facilities spending a lot of money with the hope of getting better service. But even here they are cheated in the name of health service.
Crackdowns have been too irregular to ascertain the actual number of the people involved in this heinous practice or to warn away those who run these facilities without fulfilling the required criterion. It must be said that the problem lies in good part with the governments inability to revamp the deplorable public healthcare system. The government must launch a countrywide drive against fake pharmacy shops and diagnostic centres soon. A road map must be in place to identify and take actions against these traders of human misery. Drives in this regard must be carried out at regular intervals as these will have a deterrent effect on these elements.
