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| Sunday, 4 September 2005 |
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Contaminated syringes in hospitals : Minister says No, GMOA says yes by Shanika Sriyananda Despite Health Minister's firm assurance that no contaminated syringes, which caused a meningitis outbreak, are available in state hospitals, the Government Medical Officer's Association (GMOA) claims that the contaminated syringe stocks are still in use in these hospitals. According to the GMOA, the disposable syringes 'B-Braun' manufactured in Korea bearing Lot Nos. HBS 200501 and DN20412111 given to the National Drug Quality Control Unit were found to be contaminated with foreign particles including pieces of hair, last week. Dr. Uditha Herath, GMOA Secretary told the 'Sunday Observer' that Minister could not say that no stocks were available in the hospitals since no random check up had been carried so far to check the quality of surgical syringes. " Even the Ministry does not still have plans to carry out such a search", he said. However, refuting media and GMOA accusations on re-using of contaminated syringes Health Minister Nimal Siriplala de Silva confirmed that no 'racket' as such was involved and all the state-hospitals are now free of contaminated syringes, which caused meningitis. With the outbreak of meningitis, according to Ministry sources four types of syringes including 'Kavax' bearing Lot No: 3030108, 'Intmed' and 'Shan Chuan' bearing Lot No: 20050118, which were contaminated with a cocktail of micro-organisms, have been withdrawn from all state hospitals following the reports from the Medical Research Institute and Deputy Director General Laboratory Services. So far four have died of meningitis and 15 were treated at state hospitals. The incident was first reported from the operation theatre of the De Soya Maternity Hospital, Colombo. Minister de Silva told the 'Sunday Observer' that the members of the recently appointed Presidential Commission to investigate the issue and a representative from the World Health Organisation would visit all the stores next week. "New syringes have now been issued to all state hospitals and no one need to be fear about the quality", he said. Meanwhile, the GMOA also accused the Department of Health Services for not taking action against the suppliers even after a period of one month. "We know that the Ministry has taken several steps to investigate the issue but we wonder why the Department is covering up the supplier", Dr. Herath said. However, the members of the GMOA are to meet the Presidential Commission members - Dr. J.B. Peiris and Mr. Chandra Wickramasinghe next week. Meanwhile, The GMOA requests the Health Minister to take action to compensate the dead and those affected with the disease. |
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