Will Ad-din Hospital regain its licence? A decision is expected this week

Hospital authorities say they have carried out extensive reforms and are hopeful of a favourable

The government is going to decide this week whether to restore the licence of Ad-din Medical College Hospital in Dhaka's Moghbazar, which was revoked after six newborns died in May.

The hospital appealed on Jun 24 after claiming it had completed the reforms recommended by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

A DGHS team inspected the facility on Thursday.

Prof Dr Halimur Rashid, who led the inspection, told bdnews24.com the report would be submitted to the ministry by Monday, adding that a decision on the licence could come this week.

Another team member, Deputy Director Dr Syed Abu Ahmad Shafi, said the ministry would make the final decision after reviewing the inspection report.

Ad-din Foundation Director for Company Affairs Tarikul Islam Mukul said the hospital had carried out the required reforms and remained optimistic about getting its licence back.

The licence was cancelled after six newborns died in the hospital's post-delivery ward on May 27.

A health ministry probe blamed negligence by the hospital, while the health directorate said Ad-din's response to a show-cause notice was unsatisfactory.

The case later sparked a public row after Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Husain alleged the hospital had tried to influence him with money to save its licence.

Ad-din rejected the accusation and challenged the minister to produce evidence.

Health Services Division Secretary Quamruzzaman Chowdhury said the ministry would hold a meeting after receiving the inspection report before announcing its decision.