Six newborns died at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital in the capital’s Moghbazar area on Wednesday morning, prompting health authorities to form a high-level probe committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The babies died between 6am and 9am this morning, according to the hospital authorities.
A high-level probe committee has been formed to investigate the deaths of the six newborns, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas told reporters after visiting the hospital’s children’s ward on Wednesday afternoon.
The committee will examine whether there was any negligence in hospital management, shortcomings in treatment and whether there were any environmental problems in the room where the newborns were kept, Dr Prabhat said.
“Particular attention will be given to any technical faults, including issues related to the air-conditioning system. Technical experts will be co-opted into the committee if needed,” he added.
Dr Prabhat said the government would take appropriate action at different levels if any negligence in service, dereliction of duty or infrastructural and technical faults are found.
Describing the situation, he said 11 mothers were staying at the facility including six mothers with newborns aged between one and three days.
The remaining five newborns were undergoing treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to birth-related complications.
He said the delivery ward was located on the building’s second floor, while the NICU was on the fifth floor.
Referring to the condition of the room, Prof Biswas said an ‘asphyxiating environment’ was found there early in the morning, possibly due to air-conditioning-related complications or other reasons.
The committee has been asked to submit its report within the next 72 hours and the government will take strict action based on its findings, said the DGHS chief.
The committee included a joint secretary from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, a deputy director-level official from the DGHS hospital wing and another DGHS official.
Acting Secretary of the Health Ministry and DGHS Additional Director General (Administration) Prof Dr Md Zahid Raihan was also present during the visit.