Writ filed in HC questioning legality of Ad-din hospital’s licence cancellation

A Supreme Court lawyer has filed a writ petition in the High Court challenging the legality of the Directorate General of Health Services' (DGHS) decision to cancel the licence of Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Moghbazar, Dhaka.

Advocate Yunus Ali Akand told the media that he filed the public interest petition today (15 June), adding that the petition also challenges the law under which the hospital's licence was revoked.

He argued that the validity of the ordinance itself should be examined by the court.

According to an official order issued on 11 June, the DGHS revoked the licence of Ad-din Medical College Hospital following an investigation into the deaths of six newborns at the facility last month.

The order also stated that, under Section 12 of the relevant ordinance, the hospital has the legal right to appeal or seek a review of the decision before the government within 30 days of the cancellation order.

The six newborns died at the hospital on 27 May, prompting authorities to form an investigation committee under Section 11(1) of The Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982.

Based on the committee's findings, the health directorate issued a show-cause notice on 4 June asking the hospital to explain why its licence should not be cancelled.

The hospital was initially instructed to submit its response by 5pm on 7 June.

Following a request from the hospital, the deadline was extended.

After reviewing the explanation submitted by the hospital, the authorities concluded that the response was not satisfactory.

As a result, the DGHS cancelled the hospital's licence under Section 11(2)(b) of the ordinance.