Writ seeks compensation for victims of Regent Hospital

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking publication of the list of victims of the fake Covid-19 test at Regent Hospital, a refund of money taken from them in the name of the test and compensation to each.

The writ also sought instructions to set up a monitoring cell to stop collecting extra bills from patients at private hospitals.

At the same time, instructions have been sought to publish the list of all legal and licensed hospitals, diagnostic centres and hospitals designated for Covid-19 treatment in the country and to set up health monitoring committees in each police station.

Supreme Court lawyer Barrister Abdul Halim filed the writ petition with the relevant branch of the High Court on Sunday. The High Court bench headed by Justice Tariq ul Hakim is likely to hear the petition this week, the petitioner said.

The health secretary, home secretary and the director-general of the department of health and the managing director of the Regent Hospital have been made defendants in the writ petition.

Directives have been sought for Tk10 lakh in compensation for the victims of fraud, along with interim Tk25,000 immediately.

On July 19, the petitioner sent a legal notice to the people concerned.

The notice said the health ministry's agreement with the unlicensed Regent Hospital for Covid-19 test by setting up booths was extreme irresponsibility.

The hospital has cheated on the public by providing fake test reports. So, the victims have to be compensated.

The ministry of health has not taken any action against unlicensed hospitals mushroomed across the country, foreign trips with fake reports of Covid-19 tests, and the services and fake bills of private hospitals, which is a violation of the constitutional rights of the people.