Health Minister expresses anger in parliament over Ad-din Hospital mismanagement

Health Minister expresses anger in parliament over Ad-din Hospital mismanagement

Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has strongly criticised the mismanagement at Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Moghbazar, capital, during a parliamentary session on Sunday, June 28. He raised allegations of a commercial bakery operating inside the hospital premises, piles of plastic waste and an unhygienic environment, stating that such activities that ruin the healthcare environment are unacceptable.

Speaking during the general discussion on the proposed budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year, the health minister said the bakery, plastic waste piles and pollution caused by waterlogging may have contributed to the recent deaths of newborns at the hospital.

He questioned how such commercial activities could be allowed inside a full-fledged medical college hospital, bypassing regulations.

Referring to the deaths of six newborns at Ad-din Hospital in May, the minister said the tragedy occurred due to negligence by doctors, the central air conditioning system being off, and a lack of adequate oxygen supply. He said newborns suffering from hypercapnia could not receive timely care, and they died from carbon dioxide poisoning.

He said he had visited the hospital the day after the incident and observed the mismanagement. He also alleged that the hospital authorities did not support the families of the deceased children.

The minister warned that the piles of flammable plastic waste on the hospital premises posed a serious fire risk. Due to these irregularities and violations of licence conditions, the health directorate has suspended the hospital's licence, dissolved the management board and appointed a new chief executive under government supervision.

Responding to opposition criticism, he said the action was not taken on political grounds but in the interest of protecting people's lives and health.

Regarding the budget, the health minister said the budget reflects Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's economic plans and its importance will become clearer over time.