62 diagnostic centres out of 7I in CHT illegal

Due to wrong diagnosis by them, patients are getting wrong treatment, at times leading to death but the authorities are unconcerned.

According to sources at the civil surgeon's offices in Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban, 62 out of 71 pathological laboratories operating in Chittagong Hill Tracts have no licence. They are ill-equipped and operating illegally, also depriving the government of revenue.

Twenty-two out of 24 centres are illegal in Khagrachhari, 22 out of 27 in Rangamati and 18 out of 20 in Bandarban district, the sources said.

The centres operating with licence are Lake Site Hospital, Janata Laboratory, Dr. Lab (Severon), Nironjan Usha Memorial Hospital and Sudha Diagnostic Centre in Rangamati; Chandni Diagnostic Centre and Ekota Laroratory in Khagrachhari and Mukta Diagnosti Centre and Mount Valley Hospital in Bandarban.

Owners of the illegal pathological centers are doing business allegedly in connivance with a section of dishonest health officials and doctors working at government hospitals, the sources said.

Patients are often lured away from government hospitals with a promise for better treatment, allegedly with the help of the dishonest health officials and their agents.

Most of the people working as 'technicians' at illegal pathological centres have no training and requisite qualification. In most of the illegal diagnostic centres, health assistants perform tests and diagnose diseases, which often prove to be incorrect, the sources said.

As per law, a pathologist must have a diploma from a recognised institution and undergo three years' training before working as a technician in a pathological laboratory, they said.

When contacted over phone, Rangamati Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Nazer and Khagrachhari Deputy Civil Surgeon Dr. Belayet Hossen said they are looking into the mater. A three-member team headed by a medical officer at the CS office has been formed to identify the illegal pathological centres, Md Nazer said.

The Khagrachhari civil surgeon said notices have been served on owners of illegal diagnostic centres to apply for license.

Bandarban Civil Surgeon Dr. Mahafuzur Talukder said, "We can't do anything as most of the labs are run by government doctors and local influential people are involved in the business. The Directorate of Health or the ministry should take steps against them, he said.