Regent Hospital Scam: DGHS high-ups colluded with Shahed: ACC

He knew that Regent Hospital did not have licence to treat patients, yet former DGHS director M Aminul Hasan recommended high-ups to allow it to provide Covid-19 treatment service.

He made the recommendation after an emergency visit to Regent Hosptial's Uttara and Mirpur branches on March 19.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in its enquiry found that Regent Hospital Chairman Md Shahed with help of Aminul and three other DGHS officials managed to renew licence of the hospitals.

Not only that, the DGHS officials helped Shahed to misappropriate about Tk 1.37 crore through forgery, it finds.

Yesterday, ACC's deputy director Farid Ahmed Patwary filed a case accusing Shahed, Aminul, DGHS deputy director Dr Yunus Ali, assistant director Dr Shafiur Rahman and research officer Dr Didarul Islam.

On July 21, Professor Dr Abul Kalam Azad resigned as DGHS director general amid criticism over his role.

Aminul was removed from his post as DGHS director. He however was later made principal of Institute of Health Technology (IHT).

Azad faced ACC's quizzing over Regent scam.

According to the case statement, following Aminul's March 19 recommendations, DGHS assistant director Dr Shafiur Rahman created a proposal to renew licences of the hospitals and allow it to treat Covid-19 patients.

Signed by DGHS deputy director Dr Yunus Ali and director Aminul, the proposal was sent to additional director general Professor Dr Nasima Sultana and former director general Dr Abul Kalam Azad for approval.

They approved it, and two days later a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between DGHS and Regent Hospital.

To expand Covid-19 testing, on May 19, DGHS issued a circular allowing 14 hospitals and diagnostic center to conduct tests for fees.

Regent Hospital's Mirpur and Uttara branches did not test patients from these facilities, rather carried out tests for free at National Institute of Preventive and Social Medicine (Nipsom) but collected Tk 3,500 for each test from patients.

Nipsom alerted the matter to DGHS on June 7, reads the FIR.

The following day, Dr Didarul prepared a proposal for allowing Regent Hospital to do 50 tests each day from Nipsom for free for insolvent patients.

Didarul submitted the proposal along with Nipsom's observation to divert offence of Shahed, said an ACC official, preferring to be unnamed.

Considering the emergency and insolvency of patients, the DGHS DG approved it.

ACC found that between May 8 and June 17, Regent Hospital did 3,939 tests free from Nipsom but collected Tk 3,500 for each test from patients.

"This way, he misappropriated about Tk 1.38 crore," reads the FIR.

Shahed, with the help of Aminul and other DGHS officials, was also able to get nod from DGHS for a bill worth Tk1.96 crore.

Shahed prepared the bill for accommodation and food for doctors, nurses and other officials of Regent Hospital.

But before realising the money, a mobile court led by Rab sealed off the head office of Regent Group and Uttara branch of Regent Hospital for issuing fake Covid-19 certificates and taking money from coronavirus patients for tests and treatment, violating an agreement with the government. Mirpur branch of the hospital was sealed off the following day.

He was arrested on July 15.