Deaths at dialysis unit of Kurunegala Hospital Composition of five-member committee to be expanded

By Sheain Fernandopulle   

In light of the gravity and complexities of the sequence of events surrounding the recent deaths at the dialysis unit of Kurunegala Teaching Hospital, the Health Ministry is considering enlarging the composition of the five-member committee tasked with investigating the matter, Daily Mirror learns.  

According to a top source, the initial investigations conducted at the hospital level failed to determine the actual cause of deaths prompting the hospital management to request the Health Ministry to conduct a through investigation.

 
As such, the Health Ministry appointed a five-member committee headed by Chief Epidemiologist Dr Samitha Ginige.

  
However, the source revealed that the composition of the committee may be expanded given the complexity of the scenario.  

Furthermore, sources are of the opinion that the incident may have occurred due to the entry of certain unidentified pathogens into the dialysis unit.  
However, the initial probe carried out at the hospital level did not shed light on any entry of pathogens into the dialysis unit.  

In light of the situation, the health authorities took prompt measures to shut down the unit and direct the kidney patients to other nearest units.  

Speaking of the matter, Secretary of the Ministry of Health Dr. Palitha Mahipala said the at least five deaths have occurred since January at the dialysis unit and the investigations are underway to ascertain the actual cause of deaths.