The Minister of Health and Human Services of the Federal Government of Somalia, Dr. Ali Haji Adan, met with the Parliamentary Committee on Social Development to discuss the recent incident in which a woman was forced to give birth outside Banadir Hospital after reportedly being denied proper medical care.
During the meeting, committee members questioned Minister Dr. Ali Haji about the findings from CCTV footage, the actions taken following the incident, and broader issues of accountability surrounding the event, which sparked widespread outrage on social media.
Minister Dr. Ali Haji acknowledged that a procedural failure occurred at Banadir Hospital, explaining that staff had neglected the proper referral process for a patient in critical condition. “The error was in the handling of the patient’s transfer,” he said. “The woman arrived late at night, and two midwives on duty attended to her. CCTV footage shows one of them instructing those who brought the patient to take her to Kalkaal Hospital instead of ensuring immediate emergency care.”
The Minister admitted that the referral process was mishandled, as the decision to transfer should have involved the on-duty physician rather than a midwife. He also noted that the hospital management had failed to report the incident to the Ministry.
“The case occurred on October 26. The hospital, which operates under the Ministry of Health, did not inform us or provide any official report on the incident,” he said.
Dr. Ali Haji reaffirmed his readiness to appear before the Federal Parliament to present a full report detailing the incident, the disciplinary measures taken, and the steps being implemented to strengthen oversight and improve service delivery at Banadir Maternity and Children’s Hospital.
He emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring accountability within public health institutions and reaffirmed that the safety and dignity of patients remain the top priority of Somalia’s health system.