United News of Bangladesh

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain on Wednesday said the government is not satisfied with Ad-Din Medical College Hospital’s explanation over the deaths of six newborns allegedly linked to negligence, describing the response to a show-cause notice as inadequate and lacking key information. Speaking to reporters at his office in the Secretariat, the minister said the hospital’s written explanation contained excessive and largely irrelevant information instead of addressing the key issues. “Many unnecessary things were included in the response, while the required information was not adequately provided. So, the health ministry is not satisfied with the explanation,” he said. Sakhawat Husain said the ministry will discuss the matter further and take necessary action at its next meeting. He also said the government remains firm in its previous stance regarding the hospital. The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) formed an investigation committee after six newborns died in the post-operative ward of Ad-Din Medical College Hospital at Moghbazar on May 27, shortly after being kept under observation. Minister Sakhawat Husain disclosed the findings of the probe report on June 4, saying the committee found evidence of negligence by the hospital authorities in connection with the deaths of the newborns. On the same day, the DGHS issued a show-cause notice to the hospital asking it to explain why its licence should not be revoked over the deaths of the newborns. On June 6, the hospital authorities proposed providing lifetime free medical treatment, employment opportunities, and free medical education for the families of the victims. Advocate Mohammad Shishir Manir, a member of the hospital's legal team, announced the compensation package during a press conference, outlining the various measures taken by the hospital authorities in the wake of such an incident.

Ad-din Hospital has proposed providing lifetime free medical treatment, employment opportunities, and free medical education to the families of six newborns who recently died due to alleged negligence in the hospital. Advocate Shishir Monir, a member of the hospital's legal team, announced the compensation package during a press conference held on Saturday in a city hotel, outlining the various measures taken by the hospital authorities in the wake of such an incident. According to Monir, the packages proposed by the hospital authority include three key provisions for the aggrieved families. Firstly, surviving family members—specifically parents and siblings—will receive free medical treatment for all diseases at Ad-din Hospital for life, excluding the cost of medicine. Secondly, qualified members of these families will be given preference for employment within hospital-related institutions. Thirdly, eligible students from the affected families will be offered special scholarships to study at Ad-din Medical College. "We cannot bring back lost lives, but the hospital authorities are ready to do everything humanly possible to stand by the victims' families in a respectful manner," Monir told journalists. Addressing the incident, the lawyer noted that this was an unprecedented tragedy in the hospital's history. Following the deaths, Ad-din Hospital formed a five-member internal inquiry committee. Punitive actions have already been taken against the personnel responsible for duties in the respective sections. The hospital has also received a probe report conducted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). Commenting on the findings, Monir stated that the tragedy was the result of "unintentional negligence."  He noted that both the victimized families and the hospital administration agree that while the specific individuals responsible must face appropriate legal punishment, the institution itself should not be permanently shut down, given its role in providing affordable healthcare. The press conference comes at a critical time, as the DGHS has issued a show-cause notice to Ad-din Hospital, demanding an explanation within 72 hours as to why its institutional license should not be canceled. The deadline to respond to the notice expires tomorrow (Sunday) at 5:00 PM.  Monir stated that the hospital authority would contest and handle the notice legally in accordance with the country's existing laws. The legal representative urged the concerned authorities to take effective measures to prevent such tragedies across the country in the future. He also highlighted that Ad-din Hospital operates on a low-cost model, offering medical services at rates 50 to 70 percent lower than other private facilities, and has provided free treatment to nearly one million people to date.

Negligence at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital led to the deaths of six infants, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Husain on Thursday. The findings of the Health Ministry’s probe body were presented at a press conference at Secretariat where the minister said the inquiry report clearly established serious lapses in hospital management and patient care. Exemplary punitive action would be taken against the hospital authorities, he said. According to the investigation report, the hospital’s air conditioning system in the affected ward remained non-functional for an extended period. The lack of proper cooling and ventilation created a severe oxygen shortage, resulting in a dangerous rise in carbon dioxide levels inside the unit. The probe committee also found evidence of gross negligence by administrative officers, on-duty doctors, and nurses responsible for neonatal intensive care. They were found to have failed in fulfilling their assigned duties and maintaining adequate monitoring of newborns. Besides, the post-operative ward was reportedly overcrowded in a small enclosed space, with patient numbers exceeding its capacity. This overcrowding further worsened the already critical conditions, contributing to the tragedy, the report said. Earlier on Monday, the minister said legal action will be taken over the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Hospital based on the findings of probe committees. On May 27, six newborns died in its postnatal ward at Ad-Din Medical College Hospital within three hours in Moghbazar area of the capital.  

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.