Govt cancels Ad-Din hospital's licence following deaths of six newborns
Ad-din Medical College Hospital has the legal right to appeal or seek a review of the decision before the government within 30 days of the cancellation order, says the health directorate.
Highlights:
- DGHS cancels licence of Ad-din Medical College Hospital
- Decision follows deaths of six newborns there on 27 May
- Authorities find hospital's response to show-cause notice unsatisfactory
- Ad-din can appeal cancellation within 30 days
- Health authorities request additional police deployment at hospital
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has revoked the licence of Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Moghbazar, Dhaka, following an investigation into the deaths of six newborns at the facility last month.
The decision was taken after the hospital's response to a show-cause notice was found unsatisfactory, according to an official order issued today (11 June).
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The six newborns died at the hospital on 27 May, prompting authorities to form an investigation committee under Section 11(1) of The Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982.
Based on the committee's findings, the health directorate issued a show-cause notice on 4 June asking the hospital to explain why its licence should not be cancelled.
The hospital was initially instructed to submit its response by 5pm on Sunday (7 June). Following a request from the hospital, the deadline was extended until 5pm on Wednesday.
However, after reviewing the explanation submitted by the hospital that day, the authorities concluded that the response was not satisfactory.
As a result, the DGHS cancelled the hospital's licence under Section 11(2)(b) of the ordinance.
The decision was approved by the DGHS director general and signed by the director (hospitals).
Today's order stated that, under Section 12 of the ordinance, the hospital has the legal right to appeal or seek a review of the decision before the government within 30 days of the cancellation order.
Deployment of additional security personnel sought at Ad-din
The Health Services Division today requested that the police chief deploy sufficient law enforcement personnel at Ad-din Medical College Hospital amid concerns over a possible deterioration in law and order.
The document, signed by Health Services Division Deputy Secretary Sujit Debnath, stated that authorities fear law and order at the hospital could worsen today.
"In such circumstances, you are requested to deploy an adequate number of law enforcement personnel at Ad-din Hospital in Moghbazar, Dhaka, on 11 June to maintain normal law and order conditions," the letter said.
The communication further noted that the matter has been discussed between the home and health ministers.
On Sunday, Ad-din Medical College Hospital announced that it would pay Tk80 lakh in compensation each to the six families who had lost their newborns at the hospital.
The hospital's legal counsel, Mohammad Shishir Manir, said the compensation had been finalised following discussions between representatives of the six families and the hospital authorities.
Each family had already received Tk10 lakh as an initial payment, he added.
The next day, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said the government would not hesitate to take decisions in the public interest over the deaths of the six newborns.
He stated that if the hospital authorities, through their own lawyers, took steps to compensate the families of the deceased children, that would be their own initiative. But it would not influence the government's decision, he added.
Ad-din seeks permission to continue services
Ad-din Hospital authorities have sought government permission to continue its regular healthcare services at the Moghbazar facility until a final decision is reached on the cancellation of its licence, citing the interests of hundreds of patients currently receiving treatment at the facility.
In a statement issued tonight, Ad-din Foundation said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) had recently cancelled the hospital's licence following the deaths of six newborns. Under the DGHS order, the hospital has been given 30 days to appeal the decision before the government.
The hospital authority said it wants to continue providing medical services during the appeal period solely to avoid disruption to patient care.
According to the statement signed by Tarikul Islam Mukul, director of company affairs at Ad-din Foundation, all services at the hospital remain operational despite the recent incident.
The foundation said 416 patients are currently admitted to the hospital, while around 1,000 patients received outpatient treatment on 11 June alone.
It added that 60 newborns are receiving care in the NICU, alongside 20 patients in the ICU and four in the CCU.
The hospital described itself as a major healthcare provider for middle- and lower-middle-income people and urged authorities to allow its operations to continue until the appeal process is completed.
