Ad-din’s Moghbazar hospital licence cancelled only; other branches can continue operations: Health minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain has clarified that only the licence of Ad-din Medical College Hospital’s Moghbazar branch has been cancelled following the deaths of six newborns, and that other medical colleges along with healthcare facilities operated by the Ad-din Foundation may continue functioning.

Speaking at an event in Dhaka today (16 June), the minister said, “The licence cancellation applies specifically to the Moghbazar branch. However, if Ad-din has other hospital branches, there is no obstacle to their continuing operations.”

The minister reiterated that the six newborns died due to a lack of oxygen in a poorly ventilated ward and alleged negligence by doctors, nurses and hospital authorities.

“The hospital authorities must take responsibility for the deaths. The cancellation of the hospital’s registration is the punishment for this offence. No one can commit such negligence and escape accountability,” he added.

A day earlier, Sakhawat had also clarified that Ad-din Women’s Medical College was not closed and that its students could continue their clinical training at other hospitals operated by the group.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Medical Education (DGME) has sought clarification from Ad-din hospital regarding where its students will complete clinical classes and internship training following the closure of its Moghbazar branch.

DGME Additional Director General Dr Rubina Yasmin said a medical college is required to have access to a functioning teaching hospital for clinical education.

“Since Ad-din hospital’s operations have been halted, the institution must clearly explain where students will receive their clinical training,” she said.

She added that Ad-din operates several other hospitals and the authorities must specify which facilities will be used for students’ clinical placements. “The government will assess the feasibility of the proposed arrangement before making a final decision.”

Tarikul Islam Mukul, director of Human Resources and Company Affairs at the Ad-din Foundation, informed that the organisation currently operates nine hospitals, five medical colleges, one nursing college, four nursing institutes, an institute of health technology, one collegiate school and several mobile healthcare programmes.

He said Ad-din Women’s Medical College currently has 646 students, including 209 foreign students.

The licence cancellation followed an investigation into the deaths of six newborns in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) on 27 May.

A health ministry probe committee found evidence of negligence, citing overcrowding, prolonged air-conditioning failure, inadequate ventilation and elevated carbon dioxide levels as possible contributing factors.

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) cancelled the hospital’s licence on 11 June after finding its explanation unsatisfactory.

DGHS Director General Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas said the hospital’s Moghbazar branch could no longer provide medical services and that patients should be transferred elsewhere as quickly as possible.