The Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance 1982 remains the main legal basis for licensing private clinics, hospitals and laboratories, administered by the Directorate General of Health Services. Because the Ordinance is old and brief, much of the detail comes from DGHS procedures, standards and directions. Replacement legislation has been proposed and debated over many years. Facilities should therefore check the current requirements rather than rely on older guidance. We monitor developments and confirm the position on each healthcare facility licensing matter, including any change in fees, documents or online application procedures.

A new hospital typically needs a trade licence, tax and VAT registration, building plan and occupancy approvals, a fire safety licence, environmental clearance, a radiation licence from the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Regulatory Authority for imaging equipment, a drug licence for any pharmacy, permissions for controlled medicines, and arrangements for medical waste. Blood banks, dialysis, transplant and some specialist services carry additional requirements. Some approvals depend on others, so the order matters. We prepare a single healthcare facility licensing plan with responsibilities and timelines for each approval, and track progress until the facility is ready to open.

This is a frequent source of risk. A facility that applies for renewal in good time and can show that the application is pending is in a far better position than one whose licence has simply lapsed, but enforcement teams do not always draw that distinction on the day of an inspection. We advise facilities to apply well before expiry, keep proof of submission and payment available at reception, and follow up on outstanding queries promptly. Where an inspection or closure order occurs during a pending renewal, we act immediately to present the record and seek resolution.

Closure or suspension orders may follow an inspection finding that a facility is unlicensed, understaffed, unsafe or using unqualified personnel, or after a serious incident. Mobile courts may also impose fines or other penalties on the spot. The facility's priorities are patient safety, preserving records, and a fast, accurate response to the authority. We review the order and the inspection findings, prepare a corrective plan and representations, and, where the order is unlawful or disproportionate, apply to the High Court Division. A credible healthcare facility licensing remediation plan is often the quickest route to reopening.

Yes. The DGHS applies standards on the number of beds, the space per bed, operating theatre and intensive care facilities, essential equipment, and the number and qualifications of doctors, nurses and technicians per bed or per service. Standards differ by facility category and service. Inspectors check whether doctors are registered with the medical council and whether the staff on duty match the staff listed in the application. We help facilities compare their current position with the applicable standards and document compliance, which is particularly important when expanding services or adding beds after the original licence.

We review every licence and approval, its holder, scope, expiry and conditions, and whether it must be reissued after a change of ownership or name. We check building approvals against the actual premises, clinician registrations, inspection reports, closure orders, pending inquiries and litigation, and waste and radiation safety arrangements. Healthcare facility licensing gaps often affect valuation and timing, so we translate findings into conditions precedent, indemnities and post-completion actions, and agree which issues must be fixed before signing or closing. Where a licence cannot transfer, an interim operating arrangement should be agreed before signing.

First, secure patient records, CCTV and equipment logs, and ensure that clinical staff document events accurately and promptly. Second, notify insurers and identify who will speak for the facility. Third, prepare for inquiries by the DGHS, a complaint to the medical council, police involvement or a negligence claim, and assess whether individual staff need separate advice. Communication with the family should be compassionate and careful. We advise facilities from the first hours, coordinate legal strategy across each process, and help prevent a single incident from becoming a healthcare facility licensing crisis. Lessons learned should feed into training.

Foreign investment in private hospitals and diagnostic businesses is generally permitted, subject to registration, foreign exchange rules and sector-specific licensing. Since 23 August 2026, investment registration and facilitation functions formerly carried out by BIDA sit with Invest Bangladesh. The facility itself still needs DGHS licensing and other approvals, and foreign doctors and specialists need registration or permission from the medical council and work permits. Management agreements with foreign hospital groups raise questions on fees, branding and remittance. We advise on structure, approvals and agreements, coordinating with counsel abroad where the investor needs home-country advice.