BBC Bangla Live: Negligence of Ad-Deen Hospital authorities in case of newborn death: Health Minister

Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said that the reason for the death of six newborns at the private Ad-Din Hospital in Moghbazar, Dhaka, was the lack of doctors, nurses, staff and negligence on the part of the hospital authorities.

He said this in a press conference at the secretariat on the investigation committee report at noon on Thursday.

Mr. Hussain said, “The inquiry committee has unanimously reached this conclusion that the sudden death of six newborns has been clearly proved due to the absence of a doctor on duty at the time of the hospital and the negligence of the nurses, staff and hospital authorities.”

When the journalists asked what measures will be taken in this regard, he said, “We will sit with the report of the investigation committee. We will sit and do whatever punishment can be given under the existing law, inshallah.”

At the same time, on the question whether the license will be cancelled, he said that legal action will be taken according to the law.

Citing the report of the inquiry committee, he said that the observation building of the inquiry committee is not suitable for the operation of the hospital.

“After inspecting the relevant post-operative room, it appeared to the investigation committee, due to the fact that the AC was off for a long time in the room and there was no normal ventilation, there was a deficiency in the required oxygen level and on the other hand, the amount of carbon dioxide was higher than normal,” said Mr. Hussain.

He also said that there was no active emergency medical response of the hospital in the sudden physical deterioration of the newborn due to gross negligence and non-cooperation on the part of the nurses on duty.

Without responding to the call of the parents, the concerned nurse kept delaying the matter without informing any doctor and the necessary appropriate medical measures were not taken to prevent the death of the newborns, said the Health Minister.

The investigation found that the room was about 900 square feet and had about 50 people, including 11 patients, neonates and patients, which was much more than the capacity.

“The existing administrative staff were not able to fulfill the basic conditions of running a hospital. For example, there were no doctors to treat the patients admitted in the post-operative room,” said Mr. Hussain.

The investigation also found that the nurses were not given the necessary training to deal with emergency situations, and the necessary measures for light and ventilation were not taken.

The health minister also said that the presence of people in the post-operative room was not controlled and the hospital was quite risky.

Mr. citing the investigation report. Hossain said, the possible cause of death, although it is not possible to find out the specific cause of death without autopsy in the case of unusual death, however, the following things can be mentioned as the cause of death from the observation of the surrounding conditions and the statements of different people.

“Overcrowding in small closed rooms, prolonged AC shutdown and lack of alternative ventilation reduced oxygen content and increased carbon dioxide levels in the air, making long-term survival of newborns impossible,” he said.