Licences to be cancelled if private hospitals deny treatment: minister

Health minister Zahid Maleque on Saturday said the government would take stern action including scraping licences if the private hospitals and clinics deny treatment to patients with COVID symptoms.

‘People are in crisis and if the private hospitals and clinics deny treatment to patients in this crisis moment, the government will cancel their licences and take other stern measures against them,’ said the minister while talking to reporters at Kurmitola General Hospital.

‘It’s unfortunate that patients are not getting  treatment at the private hospitals and clinics,’ he said.

People with fever, coughing, sneezing and breathing difficulty are being denied treatment at different hospitals as they fear that the patients might have contacted coronavirus.

The government repeatedly urged the private hospitals, clinics and doctors at private chambers to treat the patients.

Health services director general Abul Kalam Azad on Saturday urged private hospitals and private practicing doctors to treat such patients and guide them properly so that they can go to government hospitals dedicated for the patients.

The minister urged people to follow the directives of the government to maintain social distancing.

He said that it was unfortunate to see many people were not responding to the call of the government and even people in large number were attending religious gatherings like juma prayers.

‘It’ll be difficult to prevent spread of coronavirus if people do not maintain social distance,’ said Zahid Maleque. 

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net