Strict legal action against Ad-din Hospital after probe report: Health minister

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain today said strict legal action would be taken against Ad-din Hospital following the submission of the investigation report over the tragic deaths of children at the hospital's children's ward.

Speaking to reporters after offering Eid prayers at 8:00 am at the main Eidgah on the grounds of Monohardi Government Model Pilot High School in the upazila, the minister described the incident as "deeply painful".

He said that according to preliminary information, the air conditioner in the children's ward was switched off at the request of a mother, and the tragic incident might have occurred later due to possible gas leakage.

"I received the heartbreaking news while visiting another hospital. Immediate measures were taken and an investigation committee was formed right away," he said.

The minister said the committee had been asked to submit its report within 72 hours.

"After receiving the investigation report, all kinds of legal actions will be taken against the hospital," he added.

Referring to the measles situation in the country, Sakhawat said the government had already taken necessary measures to protect patients and contain the outbreak.

"Had we failed to tackle the measles outbreak, thousands of children could have died. We have sufficient vaccines in stock and every child will be brought under vaccination coverage," he said.

The minister also said that both measles infections and deaths had already declined significantly.

"If healthy children can be kept away from infected patients, we hope the number of measles cases will completely decline after Eid," he added.

Leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies were present on the occasion.