Hospital, clinic licence validity extended to two years
The new validity period will apply to hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, dental clinics and medical check-up centres.
The government has doubled the validity period of licences for private hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, dental clinics and medical check-up centres to two years from one, effective from the current fiscal year.
The decision was announced in a directive signed by Md Nurul Islam, director of the Hospital and Clinic Branch of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
Under the new directive, applicants must pay the licence fee and VAT for two years at once to the government treasury and apply for licences through the HSM website.
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For new licences, applicants must obtain location or environmental clearance from the Department of Environment. New facilities using narcotic substances must also obtain a narcotics licence after receiving their establishment licence, where applicable.
The Department of Environment and Department of Narcotics Control will monitor the validity of the respective licences, according to the directive.
DGHS officials, divisional directors of health, civil surgeons and upazila health and family planning officers will regularly inspect private healthcare facilities.
If any irregularity or violation is found during inspections, the licence may be suspended or cancelled, the directive said.
