Separate probe committees by the Health Ministry and hospital authorities have started working to find out whether mismanagement or negligence was to be blamed for the “unusual” series of 32 deaths at the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital.
After inspecting the paediatrics and cardiology wards, the three-member committee from the Health Ministry, headed by Joint Secretary (hospitals) Md Mosharraf Hossain, said it would make its recommendations after reviewing all the details.
Briefing journalists, committee member Dr Abid Hossain Rabbi – also a professor of paediatrics at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital – said the team would try to submit its report to the ministry within the seven-day deadline.
Earlier, during a 24-hour span since 8am Monday, at least 32 people including ten children died at the Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital – a number that doctors themselves admitted was “unusual” for a single day.
Meanwhile, a separate probe body formed by the hospital has also started working, said the hospital’s Director Brig Gen Abdus Sabur Miah. Although initially a three-member committee headed by the hospital’s Chief of Medicine Dr Ismail Patwary had been formed, three more members were later added to that committee, the director added.
More deaths and anxiety
During the 24 hours since Tuesday 8am, the hospital saw 17 more patients die, confirmed the hospital’s Deputy Director Dr Abdus Salam. The deceased includes six children, while the 11 adults had died from different diseases, he added.
Dr Salam, however, claimed that the hospital saw similar number of patients die every day.
Meanwhile, the hospital authorities have taken additional measures following the backlash it faced for the recent series of deaths.
Those without an identity card or a patient slip are reportedly not being allowed to enter any hospital ward, while the patients are being kept under special monitoring.
Abu Talib, hailing from Sylhet’s Biswanath upazila, said his newborn child had been admitted to the paediatrics ward since February 5. Claiming that the doctors did not show any care to the child earlier, Talib said the scenario changed completely since the media started reporting about the series of deaths on Tuesday.
His views were also echoed by Mosharraf Hossain, who was providing care to a relative at the hospital. He said the doctors and the nurses had been on their toes since Tuesday.
A doctor at the hospital, seeking anonymity, also admitted to the Dhaka Tribune that physicians have been staying more alert since the series of deaths.