Faisal Ahmed Sweet, Reporter || 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.