Ad-din Hospital’s Licence Restored with Three Conditions

The government has reinstated the licence of Ad-Din Medical College Hospital in Moghbazar, Dhaka, which had been temporarily suspended following the deaths of six newborn babies. The hospital has been allowed to resume its operations, but the reinstatement comes with three conditions. Authorities have warned that further action could be taken if the conditions are not properly fulfilled.

The decision was announced in a notification issued on Monday (27 July), signed by Mohammad Kamruzzaman Chowdhury, Secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to the notification, an investigation committee had been formed to examine the appeal submitted by Ad-Din Medical College Hospital, along with additional information provided in support of its appeal, following the deaths of the six newborns. The committee was instructed to conduct an on-site inspection of the hospital on 15 July and submit its findings.

Following the inspection, the committee submitted a report which the authorities considered satisfactory. On the basis of that assessment, the government withdrew its earlier decision to cancel the hospital’s licence and permitted the institution to resume its activities, subject to three conditions.

The first condition requires the hospital to comply fully with the provisions of the 1982 Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories Ordinance. The second requires the hospital to complete the process of appointing doctors and nurses responsible for providing medical services without delay.

The third condition concerns enforcement. If the hospital fails to fulfil the stipulated requirements, action will be taken against it in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations, according to the government notification.

The decision follows a period of intense scrutiny for the hospital. On 27 May, six newborn babies receiving treatment at the facility died suddenly. The incident triggered widespread concern and criticism, prompting the authorities to suspend the hospital’s licence temporarily. The hospital was subsequently given 30 days to appeal the decision.

In response, Ad-Din Medical College Hospital submitted an appeal to the relevant health authorities and the ministry. The hospital also provided financial compensation to the families of the six deceased newborns and introduced a series of reforms to its operations, according to the report.

The Health Directorate later sent several teams to inspect the hospital’s facilities and activities. The subsequent inspections produced reports viewed positively by the authorities, paving the way for the reinstatement of the hospital’s registration.

The return of the licence allows the hospital to continue providing healthcare services, but the conditions attached to the decision place renewed responsibility on its management. Compliance with legal requirements and ensuring adequate staffing with qualified doctors and nurses will remain central to the hospital’s operations.

The government’s decision also reflects the importance of regulatory oversight in healthcare institutions, particularly where the safety of newborns and other vulnerable patients is concerned. While the reinstatement allows Ad-Din Hospital to resume normal operations, its continued compliance with the stipulated conditions will be closely watched by the relevant authorities.