The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has issued an order banning the administration of anesthesia in doctors' chambers and diagnostic centres.
An office order, signed by Dr Abu Hossain Md Moinul Ahsan, director of the health directorate's hospitals and clinics department, issued on Thursday in this regard.
It has mentioned some rules that should be followed to run private hospitals, clinics, diagnostics centres.
The initiative has been taken following the recent death of two children reportedly due to the administration of general anaesthesia during a circumcision procedure at private hospitals in the capital.
On February 20, Ahnaf Tahmin Ayham, a fourth-grader of Motijheel Ideal School and College, died while undergoing circumcision at JS Diagnostic and Medical Checkup Centre in Malibagh.
On 8 January, a five-year-old child Ayaan died after undergoing circumcision under full anaesthesia at the United Medical College Hospital in Satarkul, Dhaka.
The health directorate said any operation, surgery or interventional procedure cannot be done without a specialist anesthetist recognised by Bangladesh Medical & Dental Council (BMDC).
The DGHS order mentioned that institutions labeled as diagnostic and hospital, but possessing only a diagnostic or hospital license, are not authorised to offer services specified in their name unless they acquire the appropriate license.
Specialists in pathology, microbiology, biochemistry, and radiology must be appointed in the medical facilities in accordance with their designated category, it added.
The health directorate also stated that a registered physician must be employed as an assistant surgeon for any type of operation, surgery, or procedure in any private hospital or clinic.
A copy of the licence for private clinics, hospitals, and diagnostic centres must be visibly displayed in front of the main entrance of the establishment at all times, said the DGHS.
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