A Supreme Court lawyer has filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking directives for a nationwide inspection of private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres, and the formation of a judicial inquiry commission to investigate the reported deaths of six children at Ad-din Hospital on May 27.
The government’s probe report found that a shortage of oxygen supply in the postoperative ward may have contributed to the infants’ deaths, although the exact cause could not be confirmed without post-mortem examinations.
The petitioner, advocate SM Zulfiqure Ali Junu, Chairman of the National Lawyers Council, filed the petition as a public interest litigation on Thursday, alleging widespread irregularities, medical negligence, and inadequate healthcare services in private medical institutions. Zulfiqure stated that he intends to move the petition for a hearing before a High Court bench comprising Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury this week.
The petition seeks a rule asking the authorities to explain why their alleged failure to effectively monitor, inspect, and regulate private hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres should not be declared unlawful. The petitioner also prayed for directions to conduct a nationwide compliance audit of private healthcare institutions and to verify the licences and operational status of all intensive care units (ICUs), coronary care units (CCUs), high-dependency units (HDUs), and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
Furthermore, the petition seeks directives for legal action against hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centres operating without valid authorisation or in violation of existing laws and regulations. The lawyer also requested that the court order the formation of an independent judicial inquiry commission, headed by a sitting or retired High Court judge, to investigate the reported deaths at Ad-din Hospital and related allegations concerning patient safety and medical management.
The petition requests the publication of the inquiry report and appropriate legal action against any individuals or institutions found responsible. It also asks the court to direct the respondents to submit a compliance report within a timeframe set by the court.
The petition names the secretaries of the health, home, and law ministries, the Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the Inspector General of Police, and the Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) as respondents.
