In Bangladesh, a private diagnostic centre, clinic or hospital needs a licence from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) under the Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982. You apply online through the DGHS Hospital Services Management (HSM) system, with documents such as a trade licence, income tax certificate, environmental clearance from the Department of Environment and, where narcotic drugs are used, a narcotics licence. An inspection team checks the premises, staff and equipment before the licence is issued. Diagnostic centres are licensed in a category (for example Category-C) that limits which tests they may run. From FY 2026-27 a licence is valid for two years. Confirm current requirements with DGHS before you apply.
In this guide 9 sections
Last checked: 26 October 2026. This is a plain-language guide based on the law, a sample DGHS licence and news reports. It is not legal advice. Requirements and fees change, so confirm everything with DGHS (or a lawyer or consultant) before you apply.
Opening a diagnostic centre, clinic or private hospital in Bangladesh needs a licence from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) before you treat or test a single patient. This guide explains how the licence works, step by step.
The law behind the licence
Private clinics, hospitals and laboratories are regulated by the Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982. A sample DGHS licence for a private pathology centre states that it is issued under Section 10(4) of this Ordinance. The Ordinance also sets basic standards, such as space per patient, an operating theatre and adequate doctors, nurses and equipment for hospitals, as reported by bdnews24 in a 2018 court case.
Licence types and categories
DGHS issues separate licences for:
- Private hospitals and clinics (with beds).
- Private diagnostic centres (pathology and imaging).
- Dental clinics and medical check-up centres.
Diagnostic centres are licensed in a category. A sample Category-C pathology licence says the centre may perform all pathology tests except blood transfusion, and that working outside the category is a punishable offence. Higher categories allow more tests and need more specialists, such as pathologists, microbiologists, biochemists and radiologists, and more equipment. Decide your category before you plan staff, rooms and machines, because it decides all three.
Step by step
Step 1: Get the basic business papers
- Trade licence from the city corporation or local council for the exact address.
- TIN and income tax certificate.
- Proof of premises: ownership papers or rent agreement.
Step 2: Get the clearances
- Environmental (location) clearance from the Department of Environment. Industry representatives have said this step often takes the longest, so start early.
- Narcotics licence if you will use narcotic drugs (for example in a hospital), obtained after the establishment licence where applicable, according to The Business Standard.
- Depending on your services, other approvals may be needed, for example for X-ray equipment or a blood bank. Ask DGHS which apply to you.
Step 3: Prepare the facility
Have the premises, staff and equipment in place before inspection:
- Rooms and layout that match your floor plan.
- The doctors, technologists and nurses your category needs, with their registrations (BMDC for doctors).
- Equipment for the tests you will run.
- Arrangements for medical waste.
Step 4: Apply online on the DGHS HSM system
Applications are made online through the DGHS Hospital Services Management (HSM) system, linked from the DGHS website. The Business Standard reported in August 2026 that licences are applied for through the HSM website. You upload documents and can follow the status of your application online.
Step 5: Inspection
A government team inspects the facility and recommends approval. Reported inspections have checked staff, equipment, space, hygiene and safety, and whether the services match the category. See what a licence inspection looks for.
Step 6: Licence issued, displayed and kept current
Once approved, the licence is issued (a sample is system-generated and needs no signature). It shows the licence number, category, approval date and expiry date. Display it prominently at the premises, and show the licence number and expiry on your signboard as DGHS has directed. See DGHS rules clinics often miss.
Conditions printed on a licence
A sample DGHS diagnostic licence lists conditions you should know:
- Tests only within the licensed category.
- No transfer of the licence without written permission.
- Changing the name, address or location without permission makes the licence invalid.
- Breaking the 1982 Ordinance or the BMDC Act makes it invalid.
- DGHS may suspend or cancel it for irregularities.
- Renewal within one month after expiry, or the licence is cancelled from the expiry date.
- The licence must be displayed prominently.
Validity and renewal
From FY 2026-27, licences for private hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, dental clinics and medical check-up centres are valid for two years, and the fee and VAT for two years are paid at once, according to The Business Standard. Read what the two-year licence changes. Renew on the same HSM system before the expiry date.
Common reasons for delay
- Environmental clearance not yet received.
- Documents uploaded but out of date (for example an expired trade licence).
- Staff on the application who do not actually work there.
- Services planned outside the category applied for.
After the licence: run it properly
The licence is the start. Inspections continue, and the records you keep every day are what an inspector sees. For a new centre, our diagnostic centre start-up checklist covers equipment, staff and software. Hospify Pro’s Diagnostic plan (Tk 6,500 a month$149 a month) keeps verified reports with QR checks, your test list and prices, staff and bills in one place. It does not apply for or track licences.
Quick checklist
- Trade licence, TIN and income tax certificate.
- Proof of premises and floor plan.
- Environmental (location) clearance applied for early.
- Narcotics licence and other approvals if your services need them.
- Category decided; staff and equipment to match.
- Application submitted on the DGHS HSM system.
- Facility ready for inspection.
- Licence displayed; number and expiry on the signboard.
- Renewal date in your calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Which law requires a licence for a diagnostic centre or private clinic?
The Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982. Licences are issued by the DGHS. A sample DGHS licence for a pathology centre cites Section 10(4) of this Ordinance.
Where do I apply for a diagnostic centre or clinic licence?
Online, through the DGHS Hospital Services Management (HSM) system, which is linked from the DGHS website. The Business Standard reported in August 2026 that applications are made through the HSM website. You submit documents online and can follow the progress of the application.
What documents are needed?
Reports name an updated trade licence, income tax certificate, environmental (location) clearance from the Department of Environment and, for facilities that use narcotic drugs, a narcotics licence. Applicants are also commonly asked for proof of the premises (ownership or rent agreement), a floor plan, an equipment list and details of the responsible doctors and technologists. Check the current list in the HSM system.
What are diagnostic centre licence categories?
DGHS licenses diagnostic centres in categories that set which tests they may perform. For example, a sample Category-C pathology licence allows all pathology tests except blood transfusion, and says working outside the category is a punishable offence. Higher categories allow more tests and need more specialists and equipment.
How long is the licence valid and how do I renew it?
From FY 2026-27, licences for private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres are valid for two years, and the licence fee and VAT for two years are paid at once. Renew through the same HSM system before expiry; a sample licence says renewal must happen within one month after expiry or the licence is cancelled from the expiry date.
Does Hospify Pro apply for the licence?
No. Hospify Pro is software for running the facility. It does not apply for or track licences. It helps you keep the records an inspection looks at, such as verified reports, the test list, staff and bills.
Hospify Pro is built by Flexify Ltd for hospitals, diagnostic centres, clinics, doctors and pharmacies in Bangladesh and beyond. Our guides come from the questions owners and managers ask us every week. About us
