No leniency over Ad-din newborn deaths

Those responsible for the deaths of six newborns at Ad-din Hospital will face strict legal action, assuring that no one involved will be spared, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain has said.

Speaking to journalists at his office at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the minister said that cases filed without post-mortem examinations often allow accused individuals to gain legal advantages. However, he stressed that such scope would not exist in the case of the six newborn deaths at Ad-din Hospital and that there would be no leniency.

Alongside addressing the incident, the minister announced a series of major initiatives aimed at strengthening child and maternal healthcare services across the country.

He said five specialised 200-bed children’s hospitals are currently being constructed in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Rajshahi divisions and Cumilla, each equipped with Intensive Care Units (ICU). The facilities are expected to be completed within the next six months.

He further stated that the tender process for furniture and medical equipment for these hospitals has already been completed.

According to the minister, each hospital will require 1,475 personnel. He added that the Prime Minister has instructed the Public Administration Minister to ensure full staffing for these facilities.

Addressing the shortage of accommodation for students of Dhaka Medical College (DMC), the minister said a new residential building will be constructed on the campus. The Ministry of Housing and Public Works has already prepared the project proposal, and tenders will be invited within the next few days.
The minister also raised concern over the deteriorating condition of several buildings at Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, stating that two to three structures there are at risk of collapse.

He said individuals linked to the previous government had sublet parts of these buildings. Those occupants have now been evicted and the structures declared abandoned, with plans to replace them with modern hospital facilities.

In a major expansion of women’s healthcare services, Sakhawat said five modern 1,000-bed specialised hospitals dedicated exclusively to women will be established under a Bangladesh-China initiative, primarily financed by China, in major cities or nearby open areas across the country.

He expressed hope that construction work on these hospitals would begin within the current fiscal year.
The minister also announced a pilot programme to introduce door-to-door healthcare services in six to ten upazilas, covering all residents regardless of gender. If successful, the initiative will be expanded nationwide.

On seasonal diseases, he said preparations are underway to respond to dengue outbreaks depending on the detected variant. He also noted that measures are being taken to combat measles.

He added that every private hospital will be required to reserve 10 percent of beds for dengue patients.
The minister further stated that corruption and negligence over the past 17 years had significantly hindered progress in the health sector.

“No meaningful development took place in the health sector due to corruption and neglect during the last 17 years. We are committed to breaking this cycle and building a corruption-free healthcare system as part of a new Bangladesh,” he added.