Govt to Take Strict Action in Ad-Din Hospital Newborn Deaths: Health Minister

Health Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain stated that the government will not hesitate to take strong, public-interest decisions regarding the tragic deaths of six newborns at Ad-Din Hospital.

He made these remarks on Monday morning at the health ministry, during a ceremony where the Bangladesh Association of Pharmaceutical Industries donated 100,000 bags of IV saline to support nationwide dengue treatment.

Referring to the official probe into the Ad-Din incident, the minister explained that the government is taking two additional days to finalize its response. The official decision is expected to be announced on Tuesday.

The government plans to appoint legal counsel to review the report’s recommendations and ensure proper action is taken. While hospital authorities are free to hire their own lawyers and offer compensation to the grieving families, the minister emphasized that this will not alter the government's firm stance against the facility.

Addressing the upcoming dengue season, Hossain assured the public that the government is fully prepared and currently holds an adequate stockpile of IV saline.

When asked about a recent parliamentary committee report linking a spike in measles deaths to vaccination gaps during the interim government, the minister acknowledged the facts. He affirmed that the current administration is actively working to eradicate the disease through renewed nationwide vaccination campaigns.

Highlighting the success of the local pharmaceutical sector, Hossain noted that Bangladeshi medicines are now exported to 140 countries. He pledged continued government support to private companies to further expand this global footprint.