All unregistered private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres in Bangladesh have been asked to close within 72 hours.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the regulatory authority in the healthcare sector, has issued the order asking to shut down all unregistered hospitals and clinics.

Legal action will be taken if the clinics are not closed within the mentioned period, it warns.

The order comes following a decision taken at a meeting of the DGHS, said Md Billal Hossain, director of the healthcare watchdog, on Thursday.

Four decisions regarding the issue were taken in the meeting.

Unregistered private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centers in the country will have to close within the next 72 hours. The drives will continue and need to be coordinated with local administration and law enforcement agencies.

All private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres who have not renewed their registrations, must renew those within the specified time. If the renewal application is not received within this time, their activies will be stopped.

Strict measures, including cancellation of license, will be taken against any organisation and individuals involved in providing anesthesia and helping OT at private hospitals and clinics with unregistered doctors.

The organisations those have applied for new registration, must complete the licensing process soon. These organisations will be unable to conduct regular activities without license.