Dhaka, May 10 -- The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has ordered the shutdown of all illegal canteens and unauthorised pharmacies in government hospitals, while also prohibiting any new authorisations for such establishments within hospital premises.

In a circular on Thursday, the DGHS said, "All illegal, unauthorised, expired pharmacies, canteens or cafeterias located inside the country's medical college hospitals, specialised hospitals, district headquarters, general hospitals and upazila health complexes are ordered to be completely stopped."

If these institutions have government dues, the hospitals are instructed to take necessary steps to collect them and then shut them down, according to the circular.

The DGHS circu...