Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has alleged that the authorities of Ad-din Medical College Hospital “offered” him a hefty bribe to save the private facility’s licence.
Addressing a financial aid distribution event at Monohardi Upazila Council on Saturday, he said: “This Ad-din Hospital tried to bribe me tens of millions of taka.” He said the prime minister gave him “full support” in revoking the licence over the deaths of six newborns in the capital’s Moghbazar on May 27.
Ad-din Foundation Director (Company Affairs) Tariqul Islam Mukul could not be reached for comments over the allegation.
The deaths in the private hospital’s post-delivery ward a day before Eid-ul-Azha sent shockwaves across the country, leading to investigations and a show-cause notice. Health officials said the deaths occurred under “unusual circumstances”.
A health ministry investigation committee found evidence of “negligence”.
The Directorate General of Health Services on Thursday cancelled the licence as the response and explanation provided in the show-cause notice were not satisfactory. Earlier, the relevant government authorities decided to cancel Ad-Din Hospital’s license over allegations of irregularities and breach of conditions. Hospital activity began to be affected gradually after the decision.
Those involved said patient admissions dropped after news of the license cancellation and had almost completely stopped within a day. Uncertainty remained among patients, relatives and employees about the hospital’s future operations after the license cancellation. Many said they were worried because they had no clear information about the next steps.�"bdnews24
