Ad-Din Hospital returns to normal as patient turnout rises
Ad-Din Hospital in Moghbazar,
Dhaka, is gradually returning to normal operations, with patients and their
relatives crowding various departments since early morning.The hospital’s emergency and
outpatient departments, ticket counters, maternity and paediatric units, and
dialysis centre were busy on Tuesday, the 36th day since its licence was
reinstated.Patients from Dhaka and other
parts of the country were seen arriving for maternity, newborn and other
medical services.The hospital’s services had
been disrupted for around 47 days following the deaths of six newborns at its
post-delivery ward on May 27. The licence was later reinstated on July 27,
allowing the hospital to resume services under three conditions set by the
Health Ministry.Patients and their relatives
told The Daily Star that relatively low treatment costs and the care
provided by doctors and nurses continue to attract them.They particularly cited the
hospital’s efforts to encourage normal deliveries and provide dialysis services
at comparatively low costs for low-income patients.However, many said restoring
public confidence fully after the deaths of the six newborns and maintaining
service quality would remain major challenges for the hospital.Changes in infrastructure and servicesHospital authorities said
several changes had been introduced to its infrastructure and services
following the reinstatement of the licence, based on recommendations from
experts.Adequate ventilation,
lighting, airflow and oxygen supply have been ensured in the wards, they said.
Infection prevention measures are also being followed in the ICU, NICU, CCU and
dialysis units.Doctors, nurses and other
staff have also been provided with training to improve their skills, according
to the authorities.The hospital says between
2,800 and 3,000 patients receive treatment at its outpatient department every
day.The facility has 700 beds,
including around 200 free beds. The paediatric ward has 66 free beds, while
another 15 are reserved for malnourished children.The hospital also operates a
101-bed NICU.Around 350 to 400 pregnant
women visit its antenatal care centre every day. The hospital maintains regular
contact with expectant mothers before delivery and provides counselling to
encourage them to give birth at the facility.Under its one-to-one service, one midwife is assigned to each mother.The hospital conducts around
30 to 35 normal deliveries and 60 to 65 Caesarean sections every day, according
to its authorities. Patients referred from other hospitals also receive
maternity services there.Low-cost healthcareAd-Din Hospital, a non-profit
organisation, has been providing affordable healthcare since 1997.Its outpatient department
offers specialist services in medicine, general surgery, endocrinology,
ophthalmology, cardiology, ENT, gastroenterology, orthopaedics, hepatology,
paediatric surgery, diabetology, nephrology, neuromedicine, urology,
psychiatry, radiology and imaging, physical medicine, ultrasonography,
pathology, paediatrics, nutrition, gynaecology and obstetrics, physiotherapy
and infertility.The hospital also operates an
ambulance service in Dhaka for Tk 380.Free and low-cost services
are available throughout the year for poor and disadvantaged patients,
according to hospital authorities.Post-delivery ward revampedThe post-operative ward where
the six newborns died has undergone major changes, according to the hospital.During a visit to the ward,
it was found that a positive air pressure system had been installed following
recommendations from experts. The authorities said the system helps remove
carbon dioxide and improves ventilation.Habib Hossain, who came from
Keraniganj, said his first child was delivered normally at the hospital, while
his second child was delivered by Caesarean section four days ago.I received good services at
a low cost, he said.Professor Dr Nahid Yasmin,
director general of Ad-Din Hospitals, said the organisation is a non-profit
service provider.Of the 700 beds at Ad-Din
Hospital in Dhaka, 200 are free. Patients occupying the free beds receive food
and accommodation at no cost, she said.She added that adequate
ventilation, natural airflow and oxygen supply had been ensured in every ward,
with specialist doctors, trained nurses and other staff providing treatment.We are always prepared to
provide quality and advanced healthcare at an affordable cost, she said.Six newborn deaths and licence cancellationSix newborns died at Ad-Din
Hospital’s post-delivery ward on the morning of May 27.The Health Ministry formed a
three-member committee to investigate the incident, while the hospital also
formed an internal inquiry committee.The government-formed
committee reportedly found negligence on the part of the hospital authorities
as well as serious negligence by nurses and staff on duty.On June 5, the Directorate
General of Health Services issued a show-cause notice to the hospital and asked
it to respond within 72 hours.On June 7, mediator lawyer
Shishir Monir said the hospital authorities had agreed to pay Tk 80 lakh to
each of the families of the six deceased newborns.Following a review of the
legal issues, the hospital’s licence was cancelled on June 11.After around 47 days of
suspended services, the Health Ministry reinstated the licence on July 27 and
allowed the hospital to resume operations subject to three conditions.The conditions include
compliance with relevant laws and licence requirements, the prompt appointment
of duty doctors and nurses, and legal action in case of any breach.
