Health Minister Dr Samanta Lal Sen has directed the immediate closure of all unregistered hospitals, diagnostic centres, and clinics aiming to ensure medical compliance and public safety.
Addressing the media at the Secretariat, the minister emphasised the urgency of this action, citing both the need for medical safety and the recent surge in Covid-19 cases.
Dr Sen, taking a personal tone, revealed, “I myself have been a victim of an unlicensed hospital. Therefore, I will not tolerate such negligence.”
Addressing Ayan’s tragic death
Highlighting the severity of the consequences, the health minister discussed the heart-wrenching case of child Ayan’s death. “The incident of Ayan’s death is deeply tragic. We are awaiting the investigating committee’s report, and rest assured, appropriate actions will follow,” Dr Sen assured.
Earlier in the day, Ayan’s father, Shamim Ahmed, accompanied by family members, met with Minister Sen at the Secretariat.
They presented a detailed account of the events leading to Ayan’s untimely demise, alongside a call for a thorough and fair investigation into his death.
Dr Ahmedul Kabir, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), affirmed that the crackdown on unregistered entities is imminent, reports UNB.
“It’s mandatory for all, including United Health Service, to be duly licensed. We have a considerable number of registered facilities, but being large-scale doesn’t exempt anyone from compliance,” he stated.
Rising Covid-19 Concerns and Preventive Measures
In the wake of identifying new Covid-19 variants and increasing infections in countries including India, the health minister expressed his deep concern. He urged high-risk groups to minimise public gatherings and called for universal mask usage.
In a significant public health initiative, the government plans to administer the fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to 12.50 million people this year, with a long-term goal of reaching 25.0 million people over two years.