Ad-din licence decision after re-inspection: Minister

The government will decide on the future of Ad-din Medical College Hospital only after a fresh inspection to determine whether it has addressed the deficiencies identified by the authorities, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said on Monday.

Briefing reporters at the Health Ministry, the minister said the hospital's licence would be reconsidered if the inspection found that the corrective measures met the required standards.

Responding to a question on whether the government was softening its earlier decision to cancel the hospital's licence, Sakhawat Hossain said immediate action had been necessary following the deaths of six children.

"We would have faced criticism had we failed to take action after the incident," he said.

The minister said the hospital had been instructed to address several infrastructure shortcomings, including deficiencies in its intensive care unit (ICU). According to the hospital authorities, renovation work is underway and a proposal has been submitted to the ministry to improve the ventilation system.

He said officials from the Health Ministry would verify the improvements through an on-site inspection before making any recommendation on the hospital's licence.

On compensation, the minister said he had been informed that the hospital had already provided financial assistance to the families of the victims.

Regarding legal action, he said the matter would be decided by the courts.

"It is not possible for us to file a murder case. Moreover, legal complications have arisen because permission for post-mortem examinations was not granted after the deaths," he said.