Body formed to probe death for wrong treatment in Popular Hospital

The health ministry has formed a three-member committee to probe the death of a patient allegedly due to wrong treatment and the collection of extra bills at Popular Hospital in Dhanmondi.

Joint Secretary of health department Md Jahangir Hossain has been made the convener of the committee. Two other members are Deputy Secretary of health department Mohammad Iqbal Hossain and the deputy director (hospital) of the health department.

The ministry has asked the committee to investigate and submit a report on an urgent basis.

After forming the inquiry committee, the health services department said in a letter issued on Monday, "According to media reports, it is inhumane that the hospital authorities left the dead body of a patient outside after he had died due to wrong treatment."

Haji Raushan Ali Sarkar of Narayanganj was admitted to Popular Hospital in Dhanmondi on July 15. At the end of the initial treatment, he was taken to the intensive care unit on the same day, saying that he was Covid-19 positive and his oxygen level decreased.

The relatives of the patient complained that they got a Covid-negative certificate after undergoing the test at another hospital. When they informed the matter to the hospital authorities, the latter did not take the matter seriously.

On July 24, doctors declared Raushan Ali dead. The hospital demanded Tk4 lakh in medical bills. The hospital authorities claimed there was no negligence in the treatment.