Hepatitis C outbreak: Govt will form COI if WP gives evidence in inquiry hearing

SINGAPORE — The Government has responded to the Workers’ Party’s call for a Committee of Inquiry into the hepatitis C cases at the Singapore General Hospital by saying it will convene one if the WP is willing to provide evidence.

The response from the Health Minister’s press secretary, Ms Lim Bee Khim, came on the same day as the WP’s suggestion that the committee reviewing the cause of the incident, and its surrounding circumstances, be reconstituted as a COI under the Inquiries Act.

“The WP statement is careful not to make any suggestion that SGH or Ministry of Health officers acted with improper motives. Yet it has asked for a COI ahead of the committee’s report and the conclusion of police investigations,” she said.

“If the WP believes that there are questions that the Committee cannot answer, or that any officer acted with improper motives, it should state so directly. The Government will convene a COI provided the WP is prepared to lead evidence before the COI, to substantiate whatever allegations it might have.”

In the earlier statement from Non-Constituency Member of Parliament-elect Leon Perera, the WP suggested that retired healthcare professionals and clinicians, and a person qualified to be a High Court judge, be appointed as part of a COI for “a truly rigorous and, where necessary, critical review”.

The WP said the work of the review committee, consisting of seven medical professionals from the ministry and public hospitals, will place them “in an awkward position” because they will have to “critique the actions of senior civil servants”.

The party also called on the ministry to “explicitly task” the committee to investigate the reasons for the “extended delays” in this matter, as well as the timeliness of public alerts and containment measures
Ms Lim noted, however, that the committee has engaged additional resource persons, including international advisers, to ensure it has access to “all the necessary expertise to do its review thoroughly”, and that its findings and recommendations will be made public.

Replying on Facebook tonight, Mr Perera said the WP has been “consistently clear” that it is not making allegations but is calling for “strengthening of the review process”.

He pointed to the value in boosting public confidence in the healthcare system by making public the committee’s deliberations, as per a COI.

This drew another reply from Ms Lim after midnight: “We had made clear we’re prepared to convene a COI provided WP is prepared to lead evidence. Mr Perera doesn’t say if WP will, and he had also confirmed he is making no allegation.”