Ad-din Hospital, owned by Akij Group, has set an exemplary gesture by announcing Tk. 80 lakh as compensation to each of six families whose new born babies died at its Maghbazar branch. Besides this each family has already been paid Tk 10 lakh.
The hospital authorities also announced that the parents and children of the affected families will receive free medical services at Ad-din Hospitals. The hospital authorities also offered to provide free education to eligible children of the victim families at Ad-din run educational institutions. Eligible candidates of the victim families will be provided job in Ad-din institutions.
Such noble decisions are surely a welcome gestures by the Ad-din authorities compared to many such deaths in other hospitals, including leading hospitals, in the past. Instead of paying compensations those hospital authorities, avoided responsibilities and managed immunity using influence.
However, the decision to compensate the victim families should not give immunity to those persons whose negligence and irresponsibility caused the tragic deaths of the six new born babies in Maghbazar Ad-din Hospital. Both the legal authorities and Ad-din administration must punish the negligence and carelessness of concerned persons. A fair and thorough investigation should be conducted to ensure transparency and accountability.
The tragic deaths of the six-new born babies at Ad-din Hospital sparked widespread sympathy, condemnation and protest. Probe committees were formed by the DGHS and Ad-din Hospital. Probe bodies found certain negligence and system fault in the hospital. The findings of the probe bodies should be made public.
The tragic deaths of the six new born babies has shown us examples of negligence, lack of responsibility, callousness and irregularities in hospitals, both government and private hospitals. The Ministry of Health and DGHS should now evaluate and monitor the medical services in hospitals and frame a strict guideline which all hospitals must comply.
