DGHS inked MoU with Regent Hospital on instructions of health ministry

The health directorate in an explanation has said it had allowed Regent Hospital to provide treatment to Covid-19 patients at the direction of the higher authorities of the health ministry. 

In March, when coronavirus patients were not being admitted to any hospital, Regent Hospital expressed its interest in signing a contract to serve as a Covid dedicated facility. 

"At the direction of the higher authorities of the health ministry, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) entered into an agreement with Regent Hospital," the health directorate said in a press release on Saturday.

The press release signed by Dr Mohammad Jahangir Kabir, assistant director of the health directorate, explaining the DGHS's position on the fraud of the Regent Hospital and JKG Group, said that news of the fraud by Regent Hospital owner Shahed Karim had come out, but the health directorate was not aware of it earlier.

"However, under the direction of the ministry, an initiative was taken to sign a memorandum of understanding on the admission of patients, but before that, during inspections in the two clinics, they found the medical environment suitable, but their licence was not renewed," it read. 

A memorandum of understanding was signed with Regent on March 21 on the condition of renewal of the licence.

Prior to this agreement, DGHS Director General Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad did not know the Regent Hospital chairman, let alone his identity, it added.

However, after the agreement, Shahed Karim came to the directorate several times, when he had tried to say he had contacts with many eminent persons and that relatives of those people were admitted in his hospital for Covid-19 treatment.

The DGHS press release also said the directorate had received complaints about the Regent Hospital from intelligence and other sources, and on the basis of which the RAB on July 6 conducted an operation in the presence of a representative of the health directorate.

The health directorate had been deceived while clearing the directorate's position on a memorandum of understanding with Regent Hospital and trying to do a good job, the press release said. As a result, the hospital was closed on July 7.

In the same notification, the DGHS also informed about the fraudulence of another organisation called Jobeda Khatun Shastha Seba (JKG) Health Care. The chief coordinator of the organisation Ariful Chowdhury is the owner of an event management group named Oval Group Limited.

Oval Group was given the responsibility of the event management of Health Services Week 2018 organised by the Ministry of Health.

After the start of the Covid-19 crisis, Ariful Chowdhury came to the directorate and said JKGL wanted to set up some booths in Bangladesh on the model of South Korea. The health directorate thought that the group can be allowed because they already had work experience with the Oval Group.

But the DGHS later cancelled their contract with the JKG Group after allegations of fraud were found.

The health directorate said in a statement that lately, some vested quarters are trying to tarnish the reputation of the directorate by confusing the media with trembling and false information.

The position of the organisation is clear if any officer or employee takes refuge in dishonesty or injustice. If the crime is proved, everyone expects the responsible persons to be punished according to the law.

However, in many cases the general and systematic limitations of the organisation are not taken into account. Instead of sympathy, oblique remarks and fragmented and distorted information are being presented. Attempts are being made to assassinate personal characters by spreading indecently false information.

"We think that there is be no personal motive behind all this. The situation is such that honest officers are no longer comfortable in explaining the situation to the media, leading to more confusion. If anyone commits a crime, it will be come out in the investigation and also punished," the press release added.