Newborn deaths at Ad-din hospital: Building unsuitable, oxygen shortage and negligence found, says health minister
A decision on punitive measures against those responsible would be made by Sunday, he says
The investigation committee formed over the deaths of six newborns at Ad-din Medical College Hospital has found evidence of negligence by the hospital authorities, Health Affairs Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain said today (4 June).
The primary factors behind the incident included a malfunctioning air-conditioning system, oxygen shortage, and overcrowding in a small ward, the minsiter said while presenting the committee's findings at a press briefing at the ministry in the Secretariat.
"Legal action will be taken in accordance with existing laws," he added.
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According to the report, the hospital's infrastructure, management, and healthcare services suffered from multiple serious shortcomings. The committee found that the building where the hospital was operating was not suitable for providing medical services.
The investigation also revealed that oxygen levels in the affected ward had dropped while carbon dioxide levels increased, creating a highly risky environment for newborns.
Nurses on duty failed to respond adequately to requests from patients' guardians. In addition, the ward housed more patients than its designated capacity, further worsening the situation.
The report noted that the hospital authorities failed to ensure the necessary standards and preparedness required to operate the facility. It also identified the absence of any doctor in the concerned ward at the time of the incident on 27 May as a serious lapse.
The minister said, "Doctors' absence, nurses' non-cooperation, and negligence by the hospital authorities have all been established. A decision on punitive measures against those responsible will be made by Sunday."
The probe committee also recommended that authorities conduct physical inspections of buildings before granting licences to private hospitals in the future.
The exact causes of death could not be determined, as the families of the deceased newborns did not consent to post-mortem examinations, the report said.
Minister Sakhawat further said, "Following on-site inspections, interviews with victims' families, doctors, nurses, and staff, and consideration of the overall circumstances, the investigation committee found the absence of doctors on duty, negligence by nurses/staff, and overall failure of hospital authorities during the time."
The committee also found that the hospital building was not suitable for operating healthcare services.
After inspecting Post-Operative Room 2, the committee observed that prolonged shutdown of air-conditioning and lack of proper ventilation led to a drop in oxygen levels, while carbon dioxide levels rose above normal limits.
The committee further stated that testimonies from nurses, cleaners, and the guardians of the deceased newborns confirmed "serious negligence and lack of cooperation" by the nursing staff.
"There was no active emergency medical response at the time of the sudden deterioration of the newborns' conditions," the minister added, citing the report. "The approximately 900-square-foot room was overcrowded, containing around 11 patients and nearly 50 people, including patients and attendants, far exceeding its capacity."
The report concluded that the hospital's administrative authorities were not capable of fulfilling the basic operational requirements of running the facility.
