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SDP slams lack of transparency in handling of hepatitis C outbreak

SINGAPORE — The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) yesterday (Oct 8) criticised the lack of transparency in the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) handling of the hepatitis C outbreak at Singapore General Hospital, and was the second Opposition party to voice concern over the incident in as many days.

This multi-dose vial containing insulin was shown at a media briefing that shared details of a cluster of hepatitis C cases detected in a renal ward at SGH. Photo: Wee Teck Hian

This multi-dose vial containing insulin was shown at a media briefing that shared details of a cluster of hepatitis C cases detected in a renal ward at SGH. Photo: Wee Teck Hian

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SINGAPORE — The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) yesterday (Oct 8) criticised the lack of transparency in the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) handling of the hepatitis C outbreak at Singapore General Hospital, and was the second Opposition party to voice concern over the incident in as many days.

In a media release yesterday, SDP chief Chee Soon Juan asked why the public had not been informed, even though internal investigations into the outbreak had started as early as May.

“Was the withholding of the information a political consideration?” he said.

Noting that the virus outbreak “is among the most widespread in medical history”, Dr Chee said: “The secretiveness in this episode is unwarranted as the public has the right to know — and the Government the obligation to inform the public — of such a life-and-death matter.”

Patient safety and the safety of the blood supply were “potentially compromised” by the delay in making the news public, Dr Chee said.

“We look forward to an expeditious and comprehensive investigation into how the episode occurred and, subsequently, deteriorated, and what steps are being taken to prevent future mishaps,” he added.

On Wednesday, the Workers’ Party (WP) had also questioned the MOH’s protocol in releasing information about such outbreaks. Among other things, the WP wanted to know what the ministry considers a “permissible interval of time” before the public is made aware of such incidents.

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