Directive Deferred: Health Department Relaxes Rule on Exporting Pathological Samples
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has softened its stance just a day after issuing a directive mandating prior approval for sending pathological or biological samples abroad. In a revised announcement, the DGHS stated that the order requiring mandatory permission for exporting such samples has been conditionally suspended for the next four months.
The update was disclosed in a circular signed by Dr. Abu Hossain Md. Moinul Ahsan, Director of the DGHS’s Hospital and Clinic Division, on Tuesday, May 6.
According to the notification, laboratories that send samples abroad must develop the capacity to conduct such tests domestically within the next four months. A panel of experts will prepare a list of critical tests that cannot be conducted in Bangladesh. Based on this list, samples may be sent abroad with permission from the Ministry of Health or the DGHS.
Earlier on Monday, May 5, the DGHS issued an office order stating that sending any type of pathological sample abroad from Bangladesh would henceforth require prior approval.
That directive further stated that if any private healthcare provider sends samples abroad without DGHS authorization, it would be considered a punishable offense under the law. The directive was to apply to all samples sent for diagnostic, research, or experimental purposes.
