Monday, March 30, 2009

Rubella tragedy Medical negligence the cause

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Rubella tragedy Medical negligence the cause



Minister sitting on National Medicinal Drugs Policy: GMOA

By Sandun A Jayasekera



The non-adherence to instructions by the medical team when administering the Rubella vaccine at the Matara St. Thomas’ Girls High School on Thursday was what caused the death of one student and the hospitalisation of 27 others, a health department inquiry has revealed.

The preliminary investigation conducted by Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. P.G. Mahipala had found the vaccine was administered by an assistant medical practitioner who was not authorized to do so.

The Emergency Medical Trolley required to deal with any medical emergency was not available when the immunization programme was underway.

Ministry spokesman W.M.D. Wanninayaka said a two-member WHO team comprising immunization and vaccination specialists Dr. Madhav Ram and Dr. Stephen Guichard arrived on Sunday and met Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday prior to their clinical investigation into the incident.

SOURCE: DAILY MIRROR

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