Mashiur Rahman Selim, Cumilla South 

Public and private healthcare services across Laksam, Nangalkot, Lalmai, and Monoharganj upazilas in southern Cumilla have collapsed into severe mismanagement, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents vulnerable to medical fraud and extortion.

Despite recent drives led by the Civil Surgeon that sealed approximately 16 illegal establishments, dozens of unlicensed private clinics and diagnostic centers continue to operate without valid documentation or adequate equipment. Patients are routinely subjected to unnecessary diagnostic tests, inflated fees, and improper medical procedures conducted by unqualified staff.

Local sources report that many doctors operate private chambers in violation of government regulations, frequently relying on commission-based agents to divert patients from government health centers to private facilities. Furthermore, deceptive trade practices involving pharmaceutical representatives and the sale of substandard or counterfeit drugs through clinic-attached pharmacies remain rampant.

In contrast to the widespread irregularities in the region, the Laksam Upazila Health Complex has seen improvements under Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer (UHFPO) Dr. Nazia Binte Alam, who has initiated technology-driven healthcare services and infrastructural enhancements.

However, government health facilities across the four upazilas continue to face acute shortages of doctors, trained nurses, and essential supplies, forcing patients to seek costly treatment at private institutions. Repeated attempts to contact local health officials via phone for official comments yielded no response.