Published: 12:35 AM, 31 August 2026
Private Hospitals Should Be Restrained from Charging Excessive Fees
Healthcare is a fundamental necessity, yet for many people in Bangladesh, receiving proper medical treatment has become an increasingly expensive burden. While private hospitals and clinics have expanded access to modern medical facilities, the high and sometimes unpredictable fees charged by some institutions have placed patients and their families under severe financial pressure.
Private healthcare has an important role to play in Bangladesh. Public hospitals alone cannot meet the medical needs of the country's large population. Private hospitals provide specialised treatment, diagnostic services and emergency care, often with facilities that may not be readily available elsewhere. However, the right to operate a private healthcare institution should not mean having unlimited freedom to charge patients whatever amount the market can bear.
Many families seeking treatment are in a particularly vulnerable position. A patient admitted with a serious illness may require multiple tests, specialist consultations, medicines, procedures and extended hospitalization. When separate charges are added for beds, doctors, nursing services, investigations and other facilities, the final bill can become far higher than the family initially expected.
The situation is particularly difficult for middle- and lower-income households. A medical emergency can force families to borrow money, sell property or use their savings. In some cases, people delay necessary treatment because they are afraid of the financial consequences.
This is not merely an economic problem; it is also a matter of social justice.
The government should therefore strengthen regulation of private hospitals and diagnostic centres. Patients should receive clear information about treatment costs before non-emergency procedures are undertaken. Hospitals should provide itemized bills so that patients can understand exactly what they are paying for.
There should also be greater transparency regarding consultation fees, diagnostic charges, room rents, surgery costs and other service fees. Regulatory authorities need effective mechanisms for investigating complaints and taking action against institutions that engage in unreasonable or deceptive billing practices.
At the same time, regulation should not discourage investment in the healthcare sector. Private hospitals have genuine operating costs, including doctors' salaries, medical equipment, medicines, maintenance and skilled staff. The objective should not be to impose unrealistic price controls but to ensure that charges are reasonable, transparent and justified.
Bangladesh also needs stronger public healthcare so that citizens are not forced to depend on private institutions for essential treatment. Improving government hospitals, expanding specialized services and ensuring adequate medicines and equipment would create greater choice for patients and reduce pressure on household finances.
