Government restores Ad-din Medical College Hospital's licence

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The government has reinstated the licence of Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka's Moghbazar, allowing the facility to resume operations under three conditions.

The Health Services Division announced the decision in a notification issued on Sunday. The hospital is scheduled to restart all outpatient, inpatient, and emergency services from 8:00am on 28 July.

The hospital's licence had been revoked on 11 June following the deaths of six newborns on 27 May. After the hospital authorities appealed the decision, a probe committee was assigned on 15 July to inspect the facility and assess the corrective measures taken to improve its services.

According to the government, the committee found the hospital's improvements satisfactory, leading to the withdrawal of the licence cancellation order.

However, the hospital must continue to comply with the provisions of the *Medical Practice and Private Clinics and Laboratories (Regulation) Ordinance, 1982*. It has also been instructed to recruit the required number of duty doctors and nurses in accordance with its licensing conditions as soon as possible.

The notification warned that the government may initiate legal action at any time if the hospital fails to comply with the licence requirements.

Earlier, on 28 June, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain alleged that the deaths of the six newborns were caused by doctors' negligence, an oxygen shortage, the shutdown of the central air-conditioning system, and widespread mismanagement at the hospital.

Welcoming the government's decision, Ad-din Medical College Hospital expressed gratitude to the government, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), service recipients, politicians, physicians, professional organisations, lawyers, journalists, media personalities, social media activists, and well-wishers for their support during the suspension period.