Ad-din Foundation executive director steps down after minister comment

Dr Sheikh Mohiuddin, executive director of Ad-din Foundation, has stepped down from his position, with the organisation's Board of Directors assigning its responsibilities to Professor Jamalunnesa.

The development came a day after Mohiuddin had said in a press conference that since Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain Bakul said Ad-din Medical College Hospital authorities followed him with "crores of taka", the minister will have to provide proof and substantiate that allegation.

The health minister on Saturday alleged that Ad-din authorities had followed him around with crores of taka and tried to influence him before he decided to cancel the licence of the hospital's Moghbazar branch.

Mohiuddin's resignation was announced in a press release issued today (16 June) by Ad-din Foundation, which said he stepped down voluntarily.

Attempts to reach him over phone for a comment were not successful.

Meanwhile, the health minister said he sees no mistake in the decision to revoke Ad-din hospital's licence.

"We first revoked the licence. I believe I did not make any mistakes. Incidents cannot be allowed where six children die due to negligence while the authorities remain at ease. That cannot happen," he said.

Sakhawat urged doctors to listen attentively to patients and treat them with empathy.

The minister made the remarks yesterday while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the Clinical Management Guideline on Measles Treatment at Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital in the capital.

In its statement, the Ad-din Foundation expressed deep sorrow over the recent deaths of six newborns at Ad-din Women's Medical College Hospital in Moghbazar, Dhaka.

"We, along with the rest of the country, are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident involving child deaths at Ad-din Medical College Hospital," the press release said.

It added that disciplinary measures had already been taken against staff members accused of negligence following a preliminary investigation.

The foundation also said it had launched initiatives to strengthen monitoring systems and reassess existing healthcare protocols.

"In line with the directives of the Government of Bangladesh, we are firmly committed to bringing changes to our infrastructure and management," the statement said.

According to the release, infrastructure upgrades are already underway, including improvements to ventilation and oxygen circulation under the supervision of three independent consultants.

Professor Jamalunnesa, the new executive director of the foundation, recently retired voluntarily after more than 25 years of teaching microbiology at Dhaka University. She graduated top of her class in 1988 and later earned a PhD from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

The foundation currently operates nine hospitals, five medical colleges, one nursing college, four nursing institutes, one Institute of Health Technology, one collegiate school, and several mobile healthcare services across the country.

Ad-din Medical College, other branch hospitals operational

Although the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has cancelled the licence of Ad-din Hospital in Moghbazar, Ad-din Women's Medical College and all other branches of the hospital remain open and operational.

Speaking at the event yesterday, the health minister said there was no restriction on the operation of Ad-din's other hospital branches.

The Directorate General of Medical Education has written to the institution, seeking clarification on where the clinical classes and internship programmes of Ad-din Medical College students will be conducted.

Dr Rubina Yasmin, additional director general of the Directorate General of Medical Education, said having an affiliated hospital is mandatory for operating a medical college. Since Ad-din Hospital has ceased operations, the institution must provide a clear plan outlining where students' clinical activities will now take place.

She further said the Ad-din group has several other hospitals and must specify which facilities will be used for students' clinical training. Once the authorities receive the plan, its feasibility will be assessed before any further decision is made.