Regent Hospital scam: Ministry seeks health directorate’s explanation

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has asked the health directorate to explain how the Regent Hospital got approval for Covid-19 treatment since the private medical facility did not even have a valid license.

The ministry sent the letter to health directorate Director General Abul Kalam Azad on Tuesday and ordered the immediate cancellation of the memorandum of understanding in this regard.      

"The Directorate General of Health Services will investigate how Regent Hospital could collect medical samples from homes and issue fake test results violating the agreement," said the letter signed by Health Service Division Senior Secretary Umme Habiba.

The letter asked the health directorate to submit the report as soon as possible. It also instructed the health directorate to suspend all activities of the hospital and close its branches.

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Monday arrested eight individuals from Regent Hospital Uttara branch in the capital as they were providing fake coronavirus test reports.

The hospital was found faking Covid-19 certificates, charging people for the free test and taking additional bills from patients who were admitted there with the virus infection.

The elite battalion also raided Regent Hospital's Mirpur branch on the same day. Followed by the raids, countless allegations of forgery, fraud and corruption started emerging against the private medical facility.

RAB has also launched a manhunt for Regent Hospital's Chairman Mohammad Shahed in a case initiated over the reported irregularities, including the refusal to renew its license despite reminders.

"The irregularity and corruption allegations against the hospital tarnished the image of the country and government," said the minister in the letter to the health directorate.