Ad-din Medical College Hospital has been granted an additional 48 hours to respond to a show cause notice over the deaths of six newborns. At the same time, the hospital has announced that it will provide Tk 8 million in compensation to each affected family.
Speaking to Kaler Kantho yesterday, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Professor Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas said, “Following a request from the hospital authorities, they have been granted an additional 48 hours. As a result, Ad-din Hospital must submit its response to the show cause notice by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, June 9.”
He said, “The hospital was initially given 72 hours to respond. Before the deadline expired, they applied for an extension.
After considering the request and consulting with the Ministry of Health, it was decided to extend the deadline. Earlier, the hospital’s Executive Director personally visited the Directorate and requested additional time.”
Meanwhile, Ad-din Hospital authorities have decided to provide Tk 8 million in compensation to each family affected by the deaths of the six newborns. The information was disclosed yesterday in a video message sent to journalists by the hospital’s lawyer, Shishir Monir.
He said, “The amount of compensation was determined after discussions with the affected families. In addition, all previously announced facilities and support measures will remain in place. Each family has already received Tk 1 million.”
Shishir Monir said, “The hospital authorities want to appear in person before the Directorate General of Health Services, accompanied by legal counsel, to submit their response to the show cause notice. That is why an extension was requested. ”
On June 4, the Directorate General of Health Services issued a show cause notice to Ad-din Hospital, asking why its licence should not be cancelled. The hospital had initially been given until 5:00 pm yesterday to respond. Under the new decision, the deadline has been extended until Tuesday.
Last Saturday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said that the investigation committee formed to examine the deaths of the six newborns had found evidence of negligence on the part of the hospital authorities. He added, “If a satisfactory explanation is not provided, necessary action will be taken in accordance with the law.”
