Rab fines hospital in capital for irregularities

Rapid Action Battalion yesterday fined the capital's Padma General Hospital Tk 10 lakh for anomalies including keeping the father of an eight-year-old patient in the dark even after her death and not letting him see her since she was admitted Sunday evening.

 The hospital did not have qualified doctors, nurses and necessary medical equipments, said the Rab team.

"A patient at the hospital's Pediatric Intensive Care Unit died about 30 minutes before we reached there. But her father was outside, not knowing what happened," said Dr Shahzahan, an assistant director (hospital) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

It was after the team found out what actually had happened to Nilufar, her father took the body back to his village in Brahmanbaria, he said.

"Even though Nilufar was in an intensive care for over 16 hours, there were no records of medical history, tests and follow-ups," observed Dr Shahzahan.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit did not have computerised cardiac monitors and ventilators, he said adding, the hospital, which was licensed to have 21 beds, had 116.

Besides, he added, the doctor at the intensive care did not have training required by the government, while two of the nurses were working there without degrees.

The hospital also provided services like blood bank, blood transfusion, and blood screening, without DGHS permission, said officials.

Executive Magistrate Mohammad Helal Uddin of Rab-2 said the hospital's ownership was changed without notifying DGHS.

When asked, Md delwar Hossain, managing director of the hospital, said, "The accusations are false. I can't say anything else."