Govt to fix service charges of pvt hospitals

The government will fix the treatment costs of private hospitals in the country and divide those into three categories based on their quality of treatment , said Health Minister Zahid Maleque on Thursday, reports UNB.

The private hospitals will be labeled as A, B and C category based on their quality of services, he said this while speaking at a meeting on 'fixing fees of private hospitals' at the secretariat.

He said five star hospitals in the private sector were also included in the process, he added.

The hospitals will not be allowed to provide treatment going beyond their category also based on the manpower and equipment capacity, he added.

"The government is stressing the need for on primary health care. However, instructions have been given to prevent the unplanned establishment of clinics and hospitals in villages in the name of primary treatment," he added.

Private hospitals should improve the quality of services, he said adding, "Only those hospitals will perform surgeries which have the capacities and adequate equipment."

"If the quality of health care is improved, people will not go abroad for treatment. Bangladesh is losing billions of dollars as many people are taking treatment abroad," he said.