Paltan medical centre sealed over unauthorised tests on Malaysia-bound workers

A medical facility in Dhaka has been sealed after a mobile court found it was conducting medical examinations and issuing reports to Malaysia-bound workers without government approval.

The mobile court found the irregularities during a raid on Human Diagnostic and Medical Center on Box Culvert Road in Paltan on Thursday, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment said in a statement on Friday.

A review of the facility's database showed that it had conducted medical tests and issued reports to 14 people seeking to travel to Malaysia between Sept 20 and Sept 30 without government authorisation, according to the ministry.

The mobile court also found two different diagnostic centre signboards being used at the same building — one for Human Diagnostic and Medical Center and another for Samiha Diagnostic Center.

It ordered Human Diagnostic to cease all operations and sealed the premises.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury said the government had adopted a “zero-tolerance policy” towards irregularities, fraud and unauthorised activities in the overseas employment sector.

“No organisation will be allowed to deceive workers seeking to travel to Malaysia,” he said.

“Strict legal action will be taken against institutions that issue medical reports to overseas-bound workers fraudulently or through deceptive means. Such surprise raids and mobile court operations will continue across the country to protect the interests of our workers and ensure transparency.”