The government has decided to take stern action against those who are found guilty of wrong treatment or negligence in treatment, issuing a 10-point instruction to bring discipline in the health sector.

The move comes following the recent allegations of wrong treatment and negligence, including the death of two children during circumcision in two private hospitals in Dhaka city.

In its order issued on Thursday, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) tagged 10 conditions for running private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres.

"In no way anaesthesia can be given in doctor chambers and diagnostic centres except licensed hospitals or clinics. Any type of operation, surgery or interventional procedure can't be performed without specialist anaesthetists recognised by Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC)," it said.

The licensed hospitals and clinics must follow the Operation Theatre Etiquette in carrying out operation and maintain Labour Room Protocol.

"A registered physician must be kept as assistant of surgeon for any type of operation/surgery or procedure in hospitals/clinics," it added.

The hospitals or clinics must preserve certificates of professional degrees, BMDC updated registration and appointment letters of physicians.

The diagnostic centres and pathology laboratories can carry out tests as per their respective categories. And specialists in pathology, microbiology, biochemistry, and radiology must be appointed at the hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres in accordance with their designated categories.

The healthcare facilities labelled as diagnostic centres and hospitals after taking licence for only diagnostic centre or hospital are not authorised to offer services specified in their name unless they acquire the appropriate licence.

All hospitals and diagnostic centres must have valid licences to carry out their health services.

The private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres must hang a copy of their licence permanently at their entry gate.

In a written statement issued over the order, Health and Family Welfare Minister Samanta Lal Sen on Thursday said, "From now on, private medical/clinic/diagnostic centres should run according to the government's specific conditions. Because we're noticing that some dishonest people are opening name-only hospitals/clinics/diagnostic centres just for the sake of business interests and doing business with people's lives. Going beyond the rules, they can no longer continue."

He said still over 1,200 private health facilities are still not registered. "They don't have good doctors, nurses and technicians. So, what are they running in the name of hospitals? How are they getting patients? We have to think about them. I would like to make it clear that about 1,000 such unregistered health centres have already been closed and other such unregistered health centres are also in the process of shutting."

The minister further said every private medical/clinic/diagnostic centre must run in compliance with the rules. "Failure to do so will invite severe penalties, including cancellation of registration."

The DGHS on Wednesday shut down JS Diagnostic and Medical Check-up Centre at Malibagh Chowdhurypara of the capital, following the death of a child allegedly due to negligence during circumcision.

The 10-year-old child, Ahnaf Tahmin Ayham, was undergoing circumcision at the centre on Tuesday when he died. Following the incident, the health minister ordered the immediate closure of the diagnostic centre.

At the same time, police also arrested a director and an anesthesiologist of the diagnostic centre based on a complaint filed by Ahnaf's father.

The DGHS sent a letter to the BMDC on Thursday to take action against three doctors of JS Diagnostic and Medical Checkup Centre over the death of the fourth-grader.

This was the second death during circumcision in the capital since January 7 when five-year-old Ayaan Ahmed, a nursery student, died at the United Medical College Hospital in Badda.

Experts said stern action should be taken against any negligence or wrong treatment that causes death or any other suffering for patients.

"Negligence to patients is not acceptable at all. Stern action should be taken if any incident of negligence takes place. The repeated incidents of child deaths after giving anaesthesia are a matter of concern," Prof Dr Nazrul Islam, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, told the Daily Sun.