Published: 6:25 PM, October 6, 2015. Updated: 1:36 AM, October 7, 2015
SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has convened an independent committee to review the Hepatitis C outbreak at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) in June.
The review committee will provide an objective and critical review of SGH’s investigation and findings on the cluster, and glean learning points for the wider healthcare system, said the MOH in a press release today (Oct 6). The committee will also determine if all possible measures had been taken to identify the possible points of infection control breach, and remedy any weak point in the overall workflow with regard to infection control.
The seven-member committee will be chaired by Prof Leo Yee Sin, Director (Institute of Infectious Diseases & Epidemiology)/Clinical Director (Communicable Disease Centre) at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
SGH today held a press briefing on the Hepatitis C cluster. Of the 22 kidney disease patients found to have the infection, four with co-existing conditions - such as pneumonia - and severe sepsis, an immune response to an infection, have died, possibly due to the hepatitis C virus infection. Three other deaths were found to have no link to the infection.
The MOH said SGH — which started investigations and took precautionary measures in June after noticing the unusual increase in Hepatitis C infections — made its initial presentation to the ministry in late August. The hospital submitted its final report to the ministry late last month.
Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong said: “I am gravely concerned and disappointed with the occurrence of the cluster of Hepatitis C cases in SGH. My thoughts are with the affected patients and families.
“MOH takes this incident very seriously,” he said. “I have decided to appoint an independent Review Committee to provide added assurance that there is an objective and critical review of the internal findings by SGH.”
The committee’s findings will be shared with the public. Useful learning points will also be shared with the wider healthcare system.
“SGH has assured me that it is committed to the care of its patients and will provide its full support and appropriate care to the affected patients. It will also extend its full cooperation to the independent review,” added Mr Gan.
The review committee will complete its work in about two months’ time.
The committee members are:
1) Prof Leo Yee Sin - Director (Institute of Infectious Diseases & Epidemiology) / Clinical Director (Communicable Disease Centre), Tan Tock Seng Hospital
2) Prof Lim Seng Gee Senior Consultant (Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Department of Medicine), National University Hospital
3) A/Prof Helen Oh Head (Infectious Diseases), Changi General Hospital
4) Dr Titus Lau Senior Consultant (Division of Nephrology), National University Hospital
5) Ms Paulin Koh Chief Nurse, Changi General Hospital
6) A/Prof Quek Swee Chye Deputy Chairman of Medical Board, National University Hospital
7) Dr Jeffery Cutter Director (Communicable Disease Division), MOH
Source:
TODAY Online - MOH appoints independent committee to review Hepatitis C outbreak at SGH
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