No form of negligence in medical treatment will be tolerated, Health Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain has said. He said strict action, in accordance with regulations, will be taken against those found responsible for medical negligence.
The health minister traveled to Baghutia village, in Bahorpur union of Rajbari’s Baliakandi upazila, on Friday morning, August 21, to offer condolences to the family of Konika Mondal, who died as a result of medical negligence. He made the comments in response to reporters’ questions during the visit. The health minister said that, on the instructions of the Ministry of Health, a five-member investigation committee was formed Thursday night over Konika Mondal’s death. The committee has been asked to submit its investigation report within the next five working days. Necessary action will be taken once the report is received.
He said: “The death of a mother due to a doctor’s negligence cannot be accepted. I have come here to express solidarity with the family. Prime Minister Tareque Rahman, local BNP leaders and the government will stand by this family.”
The health minister further said the government is working to overcome the damage done to healthcare over the past 17 years. Various initiatives have been taken to bring healthcare to people’s doorstep. Steps are also being taken to modernize all healthcare centers across the country, the benefits of which ordinary people will receive.
During the visit, the health minister personally gave the Konika Mondal family Tk 50,000 in financial assistance. Also present were Rajbari District Commissioner Afroza Parvin, Civil Surgeon Dr. S M Masud, Additional Superintendent of Police Samsul Haque, Additional District Commissioner (General) Tarif Ul Hasan, Upazila Executive Officer Chowdhury Mustafizur Rahman, Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr. Md Faruk Hossain, Baliakandi police station OC Abdur Rob Talukder, and local BNP leaders.
On June 29, Konika Mondal, 35, wife of Ashanto Mondal of Baghutia village in Baliakandi upazila’s Bahorpur union, gave birth to a daughter via cesarean operation performed by Dr. Lakshmi Rani Dutta at Faridpur’s Samorita Hospital.
The day after the operation, her abdomen swelled. As her condition worsened, she was admitted to Ibne Sina Hospital in Dhaka on July 3. There, tests on July 7 found gauze in her abdomen. Surgery was performed that same day to remove it.
After a prolonged illness, Konika Mondal died around 2:15 a.m. on the night of Wednesday, August 19, while undergoing treatment at the hospital in Dhaka’s Kalyanpur.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report