Mushroom growth of illegal clinics in Noakhali

Most laboratories and diagnostic centres cheat people in the name of good medical care
 A large number of illegal diagnostic centres and clinics have been set up at Maijdee town and Chaumohoni commercial hub and its adjoining areas like different hats and bazaars of Noakhali district without license and no registration from the civil surgeon’s office. As a result, thousands of poor patients are being subjected to serious health hazards even threatening to lead them to death, sources said.
Sources said, most of the owners of laboratories and diagnostic centres of the district are cheating people in the name of good medical care and specialized doctors. But local people complained that inexperienced doctors and unskilled nurses are providing treatment.
Most of the doctors are working in Noakhali General Hospital and private clinics. The specialist surgeons from Dhaka and Comilla often visit there on contract to perform surgical operations but within a very short time they leave the places without attending to difficulties patients face after getting post-operative treatment.
Most of the clinics have also no required number of full-time doctors. The so-called doctors render their services on contract basis.
Even in some places, impostors are found signing diagnostic reports fleecing the patients. They hang up the signboards of the same physicians.
It is also found that in most centers, the X-ray machines have no protection wall to stop leakage of radiation which is dangerous for health. It could even cause cancer, sources said.
Some of these diagnostic centres do not work at day-time for unknown reasons.
Besides, wastage, gauges and used bandages are being dumped into the tins and roadsides causing serious health hazards to the people living in the areas.
Apart from that, pathological laboratories have been running business without experienced pathologists, radiologists and technicians or modern equipment.
As a result, unqualified technicians of the labs, test urine, blood, stools etc and prepare reports and the designated pathologists put their sign.
During a recent field visit and facts collected from the Noakhali Civil Surgeon’s office, this correspondent found that only 30 out of 57 clinical diagnostic and pathological laboratories in the town have valid licenses.
The equipment, chemical reagents and technicians of these diagnostic centres and pathological labs are below the standard, expired, outdated and in the most unhygienic conditions.
Brokers collect patients from villages and remote areas alluring them with cheap packages for treatment in exchange for fat commission from the labs and clinics and doctors.
Sources said, owners of these diagnosis centres and laboratories are socially powerful. They allure the patients by offering cheap rates for treatment but after completion of all tests, the amount turns out to be intolerable.
The Civil Surgeon’s office has virtually ignored the immense sufferings of the poor patients.