HC orders display of fee charts at hospitals, diagnostic centers

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DHAKA, July 24, 2018 (BSS) – The High Court (HC) today ordered the authorities concerned to ensure open display of charts of fees for different medical services at all the private clinics, hospitals and diagnostic centers within the next 15 days.

A High Court division bench comprising Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Md Khairul Alam passed the order, asking the health secretary, the director general of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) and Bangladesh Medical & Dental Council (BMDC) to comply with the order.

The court also ordered the authorities to form an expert committee within 60 days to formulate a policy as per “The Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982” and to implement that.

The High Court came up with the order following a writ petition filed by Human Rights Lawyers and Securing Environment Society of Bangladesh in public interest.

“The court also issued a rule asking as to why it shall not pass an order to set up ICU or CCU beds in every district hospital. It also questioned why the fee charts at the hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers shall not be displayed in open,” advocate Dr Bashir Ahmed, who stood for the writ, told newsmen.

The court asked Health Secretary, DG of DGHS, BMDC, Inspector General of Police, and Director General of RAB to reply the rule.