Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Monday said the government will take its next decision regarding Ad-din Medical College Hospital after a fresh inspection to verify whether the institution has addressed the deficiencies identified by the authorities.
"If the inspection finds the situation satisfactory, the government will take the decision accordingly," he said while speaking at a press briefing on healthcare services in flood-affected areas at the Secretariat.
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The hospital authorities had applied for a fresh inspection after claiming to have corrected the shortcomings, the minister said.
Asked whether the government is reconsidering its decision revoking the hospital's licence, he said action had been taken following the deaths of six children, adding that the government would have faced criticism had it failed to respond to the incident.
Sakhawat said the hospital had earlier been instructed to address various infrastructural shortcomings, including deficiencies in its Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and the authorities later informed the ministry that the required corrective measures were being implemented.
According to him, officials of his ministry will conduct a fresh inspection to assess the actual situation before making any decision.
The minister also said the ministry has not yet granted the hospital any final clearance, and a decision will only be taken after the re-inspection.
Regarding the affected families, he said he was informed that the hospital authorities provided financial assistance for them.
However, Sakhawat noted that a case over the incident is currently pending with the court and that any decision on the legal matter will be made in accordance with the judicial process and the law.
On May 27, six newborns died in the postnatal ward at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in the city’s Moghbazar area within three hours.
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) later cancelled the licence of the hospital.