The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has ordered the deployment of adequate law enforcement personnel at Ad-din Hospital in Magbazar to maintain order following the cancellation of its licence over the deaths of six newborns.
The directive was issued on Wednesday through a letter from the Health Services Division to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), signed by Deputy Secretary Sujit Devnath.
The notification stated that following the tragic deaths of six infants on 27 May, there is a risk of serious deterioration in the law-and-order situation at the hospital on 11 June.
It requested the deployment of sufficient forces on that date to prevent any untoward incident. The letter noted that discussions on the matter had already taken place between the home minister and the health minister.
Between 5am and 9am on 27 May, six newborns aged one to four days fell ill and died sequentially in the post-operative ward on the second floor of the hospital. Eleven mothers and six newborns were admitted to the ward at the time.
Relatives said the children were fine at night but suddenly developed breathing difficulties and deteriorating conditions in the early morning. Due to a lack of prompt medical attention, they could not be saved.
The investigation committee’s report revealed serious negligence and legal violations, including the absence of duty doctors, inadequate supervision by nurses and staff, insufficient ward facilities, defective ventilation, and suffocation due to lack of oxygen.
The probe found these irregularities violated provisions of the Medical Practice, Private Clinic and Laboratories Regulation Ordinance of 1982.
The government issued a show-cause notice on 4 June. The hospital authorities submitted a response by 9 June, but it was not considered satisfactory.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Directorate General of Health Services Director General Dr Parbat Chandra Biswas said, “As the response and explanation were not satisfactory, the hospital’s licence has been cancelled under Section 11(b) of the 1982 Ordinance.”
Following the cancellation, admission of new patients will remain suspended. However, admitted patients will receive assistance on humanitarian grounds, and the hospital authorities must cooperate in transferring them to other licensed hospitals. The health directorate will also provide assistance if necessary.
