Despite a high court order, many private hospitals in the capital have not put up a price chart for diagnostic tests; in some hospitals, the charts are kept from public view.
Hospital authorities say that the price list was not put up since they did not get a letter mentioning the court directive.
Director of Anwar Khan Modern Medical College Hospital, Dr Md Jasimuddin Khan, says: “the directive will go to the ministry and then to the health directorate and, finally, come to us; we cannot put up the chart unless we have the directive in hand.”
We always try to adhere to the directives of the health ministry, he said and added: “once this price chart is applied, no one will be able to take extra fees from patients.”
Meanwhile, assistant general manager (corporate communications) of Labaid hospital, says: “court has asked to put up the chart within 15 days and we have done that; all our branches now have the chart.”

The chart was not seen in Central Hospital on Green Road. Director of the establishment, Dr Kasem Ahmed, told Bangla Tribune: “I was out of the country but will look into it tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, trustee of Gonoshashto hospital, Dr Zafrullah said: “the chart should be visible to patients and service users can see it.”
Director of the health directorate, Dr Kazi Jahangir Hossain told Bangla Tribune: “the high court order will be featured on seven daily newspapers as public service adverts for seven consecutive days.”
We have already sent letters to all district civil surgeons and upazila health and family officers with the explicitly mentioned condition that the chart has to be visible, he added.
On 24 July last, a joint high court bench ordered all non-government health service providing bodies to put up the diagnostic services price chart in a visible spot for all to see easily.