Legal notice issued seeking judicial probe into death of six newborns at Ad-Din Hospital

A legal notice has been issued seeking the formation of an independent judicial inquiry commission to investigate the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Hospital, a tragedy that has sparked nationwide concern over patient safety and healthcare standards in private medical facilities.

The notice was sent on Sunday (May 31) by Supreme Court lawyer and Chairman of the National Lawyers Council, Advocate S.M. Zulfikar Ali Junu, to the Health Minister, Health Secretary, Home Secretary, Law Secretary, Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and other relevant authorities.

In the notice, the lawyer raised concerns over longstanding allegations of irregularities in private hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres across the country, including issues related to licensing, quality of care, availability of trained medical personnel, emergency response systems and life-saving equipment.

Referring to the deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Hospital, the notice called for a thorough investigation to determine the actual cause of the incident, ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future. It specifically urged the government to establish an independent judicial commission headed by a High Court judge.

The notice also demanded nationwide inspections of private healthcare facilities through mobile courts and special drives to assess licensing compliance, emergency preparedness and patient safety standards. Authorities were further urged to evaluate the operational capacity of critical care units, including ICUs and NICUs, and take strict action against any unlicensed or non-compliant institutions.

The legal notice gives the authorities 15 days to take effective measures. Failing that, the sender warned of pursuing further legal action, including filing a writ petition in the public interest before the High Court.

The development comes as investigations into the deaths of the six newborns continue, with growing calls from various quarters for transparency, accountability and reforms in the country's private healthcare sector.