Ad-din Hospital to pay Tk80 lakh each to families of 6 deceased infants

Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka's Moghbazar has announced that it will pay Tk80 lakh in compensation to each of the six families who lost newborns at the hospital.

The compensation amount was determined through joint discussions between the affected families and the hospital authorities, the hospital's legal counsel Mohammad Shishir Manir said today (7 June).

Speaking to reporters at his chamber at the Supreme Court today (7 June), Shishir said, "A decision has been made to provide Tk80 lakh in compensation to each of the affected families. The other facilities and benefits announced earlier will also remain in place."

He added that the compensation package was finalised following discussions between representatives of the six families and the hospital authorities.

According to him, each family has already received Tk10 lakh as an initial payment.

Responding to another question, the lawyer said the hospital has sought an additional 48 hours from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to respond to a show-cause notice issued over the deaths of the six infants.

He said the hospital authorities have requested time until 9 June to submit their response to allegations of negligence and explain why the hospital's licence should not be cancelled.

"The hospital wants to submit its response in person in the presence of legal counsel," Shishir said.

DGHS Director General Prof Dr Prabhat Chandra Biswas confirmed that the health authorities have received the hospital's request for an extension.

He said the deadline for responding to the show-cause notice was 5pm today. 

"If no response is received within the stipulated time, we will consult senior officials of the Ministry of Health and decide on the next course of action today," he said.