Here is a little insight on this scandal. This is probably the best media managed episode of incompetence of pretty much of an epic scale. So much so that Singaporeans have no idea how bad this and may think that the authorities are up front and proper but do not realise that it is a major failure in leadership and the enormity of this has been downplayed. It also reeks of a cover-up of senior leadership. They crucified the female midshipman in court for the naval collision in 2003 which resulted in death of 4 female sailors but this is 25 infection and 8 deaths the severity of it was not realised or appreciated for 4 months.
Background:
Singhealth as a cluster has 2 Hospitals - SGH and KK. And SGH is the biggest hospital in Singapore. This Group CEO is the wife of the Minister of Defence and under her there are deputy CEOs and range of senior management staff. The Singhealth Board is headed by Ho Ching and PM's favourite Corporate Captain Peter Seah, the one who is the non Executive chairman of DBS but was questioned in the media for drawing an Executive salary of close to $2m. The board also comprises senior luminaries.
The Scandal:
In late May 2015, the staff in the Renal Unit realised that they a full blown contamination. Mostly transplant patient. 4 months later despite positive confirmation of 15 cases and 7 deaths associated with these cases, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and the Group CEO and the wife of the Minister of Defence had no clue. They found out on 3 September. The Group Chief Risk Officer of Singhealth whose duty would involve managing such a major outbreak of this nature was not involved. On 18 September, the Minister of Health was notified. 2 days later on 20 September, The Chairman of the Singhealth Board and the Chairman of the Board Risk Oversight Committee found out for the first time. Bear in mind that this Ministry not only has Gan Kim Yong as Minister but also have 1 Senior of State, Amy Khor, and 2 Ministers of State, Lam Pin Ming and Chee Hong Tat. What were they doing over 4 months. On 30th Sept, the 8th and final death occurred with a total of 25 cases of contamination confirmed and the majority are transplant cases. And only in the second week of September, 5 months after the outbreak occurred did they stop the transplants and move the cases to NUH.
Are you telling me that these cases and deaths were deliberately hidden or that the senior political and non political leadership were so high up in the ivory tower that no one could reach them. Why have so many people in leadership positions drawing so much money but were not in a position to manage the situations. Some of these deaths could have been avoided and the families of those who donated their organs would not have seen them go to waste.
The actual cause:
I bet as conditioned Singaporeans, you guys after all these months and the press releases until yesterday have no idea what led to this debacle. It is actually straight forward and more the reason why most of these deaths were unnecessary. It is a blood borne contamination. It was traced to poor procedures where medical carts were not cleaned and blood stains were found on these carts, and on walls. Seriously has our nursing standards hit rock bottom. And this Unit handles organ transplants. Even a uneducated petrol pump attendant will not smoke a cigarette while attending the pump. Nothing sophisticated.
The ones who were disciplined:
None of the political appointees, nor the Group CEO and the wife of the Minister of Defence were amongst those disciplined. Nor were Board Chairman or the PS. It was only the second rung of the leadership who were crucified and I do agree that this lot should face the music.
Excess and wastage;
Why bother having a group and cluster structure when it clearly evident that they were not used, had no idea of the worst outbreak of contamination in Singapore's medical history as well as the highest death toll and worst still the loss of valuable organs that were donated.
Here is the leadership of Singhealth who had no idea what was going on and therefore played no part.
1) Sr Leadership -
https://www.singhealth.com.sg/About...urLeadership/SeniorManagement/Pages/Home.aspx
2) The Board -https://www.singhealth.com.sg/AboutSingHealth/CorporateOverview/OurLeadership/BoardofDirectors/Pages/Home.aspx
It will remain to be seen if Prof Ivy Ng and the wife of the Minister of Defence and the PS for MOH Mrs Tan Ching Yee will be removed from their ivory tower. If PSC has any iota of moral responsibility they would know what to do. This is a classic failure in leadership. They ran their respective shops where the mechanism for escalation was inadequate, woeful and both had not idea of the raging fire until the house burnt down. And this is not minor episode. This is largest outbreak of contamination in our medical history plus the highest death toll. As for ehe Chairman of Singheatlh, he only knew after the Minister. Maybe they should take away his beloved bike for the time being.
I have no issues where the likes of Ang Chong Lye and Jeffrey Cutter are disciplined but they are just major cogs in the hierarchy. This however is a structural failure. This cannot stop here.
ps. how much compensation was paid out to keep this out of the courts? Another chapter?