Not only scam hit-Regent, but several other hospitals are running on expired license, the health directorate has found evidences.
At the beginning of coronavirus outbreak in the country, Regent Hospital inked a treaty with the Directorate General of Health Services to provide services as coronavirus dedicated facility.
But recently various allegations, including issuing fake COVID-19 test certificates and embezzling huge amount of money from patients in the name of treatment, surfaced against the hospital authorities.
Later, the Rapid Action Battalion conducted drives at the hospital and its branches and sealed off those.
Not only fraud, but the hospital had been run on expired license for long six years.
Police subsequenlty lodged a case with Uttara West Police Station in this connection and the hospital owner Sahed Karim alias Mohammad Sahed and his some aides were arrested in the lawsuit.
Sources in DGHS said at least 16 COVID dedicated and non-COVID hospitals were inspected following Regent scam.
During the inspection, officials found several hospitals' licenses expired.
Besides, the acilities have no necessary infrastructure, physicians, nurses, employees and lab facilities.
The sources said DGHS chief prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad meet a few committees formed to fight the virus at around 7:30pm everyday on overall situation of coronavirus.
The last meeting held on Thursday evening discussed the hospitals which did not renewed license.
Several officials attended the meeting told Jago News that the health directorate will soon give chance to such hospitals to renew license and remove insufficiency.
According to last data of DGHS, there are 5,054 private hospitals and clinics as well as 9,529 diagnostic centers across the country.
There is allegation that many hospitals licensed by the health directorate by lobbying of various sections and recommendation are running without renewing license.
When DGHS, sometimes, goes to inspection, the facilities avoid so making transaction of illegal money.
About this, DGHS chief was contacted over phone but he could not be reached.