Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain Bakul on Sunday said the licence of Ad-din Medical College Hospital has been suspended, not cancelled, following the deaths of six newborns at the hospital last month.
Speaking during the budget session in Parliament, the minister clarified the government's position after earlier notifications issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) stated that the hospital's licence had been cancelled.
Responding to criticism from lawmakers, the minister said the government had no intention of shutting down a hospital that provides affordable healthcare services, including low-cost dialysis, but stressed that those responsible for negligence must be held accountable.
Referring to the deaths of six newborns within three hours on May 27, he alleged that the infants suffered from hypercapnia caused by a lack of oxygen after the air conditioning system was switched off in a sealed room with no windows or proper ventilation adding that he personally visited the hospital the following day and discussed the incident with two physicians, who agreed that negligence and inadequate oxygen supply were responsible for the deaths.
He also alleged that the hospital owner failed to visit the affected ward after the incident. According to the minister, the hospital's board of directors was later restructured and the owner's wife was appointed as chief executive following the incident.
"We did not order the closure of the hospital. We only suspended its licence while the matter is under review," he said, urging lawmakers not to politicise the issue.
On June 11, the DGHS announced the cancellation of the hospital's licence after finding the hospital's response to a show-cause notice unsatisfactory.
A ministry-formed investigation committee identified oxygen shortages and negligence by the hospital authorities as the primary causes of the deaths. Following the probe, the hospital was served with a show-cause notice and asked to explain why its licence should not be revoked.
Although the hospital sought additional time and submitted its written explanation on June 9, the DGHS said the response failed to address the concerns satisfactorily. The licence was subsequently revoked under Section 11(2)(b) of the Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982.
Under Section 12 of the ordinance, the hospital has the right to appeal or seek a review of the decision within 30 days.
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