ZAGREB, Oct 15 (Hina) - The danger for patients treated with hemodialysis has been removed by withdrawing from use dialysers produced by the US company Baxter, which has confirmed the Health Ministry's assumption that the dialysers
have caused the death of 21 kidney patients, Croatian Health Minister Ana Stavljenic Rukavina told reporters on Monday. Representatives of the US company tried to avoid the tragic facts about 21 dead patients at today's meeting but one cannot expect a multinational company to admit its guilt, she said. The Croatian Health Ministry and the Croatian Public Health Institute have done all to prevent further deaths within an appropriate deadline and much faster than is the case in other countries, it was said at today's news conference. The health minister disclaimed responsibility for information on the contentious dialysers being sent too late to the Pula hospital, where deaths occurr
ZAGREB, Oct 15 (Hina) - The danger for patients treated with
hemodialysis has been removed by withdrawing from use dialysers
produced by the US company Baxter, which has confirmed the Health
Ministry's assumption that the dialysers have caused the death of
21 kidney patients, Croatian Health Minister Ana Stavljenic
Rukavina told reporters on Monday.
Representatives of the US company tried to avoid the tragic facts
about 21 dead patients at today's meeting but one cannot expect a
multinational company to admit its guilt, she said.
The Croatian Health Ministry and the Croatian Public Health
Institute have done all to prevent further deaths within an
appropriate deadline and much faster than is the case in other
countries, it was said at today's news conference.
The health minister disclaimed responsibility for information on
the contentious dialysers being sent too late to the Pula hospital,
where deaths occurred on Saturday afternoon.
Involved in the procedure of establishing responsibility for the
tragic events are investigative bodies of the Interior Ministry.
The performance of every health institution and the situation in
dialysis centres will be assessed so as to establish their possible
responsibility for sending reports on the deaths too late.
The Health Ministry has contacted the Health Ministry of Spain,
where similar deaths occurred in late September, to exchange
information. The World Health Organisation has joined in the fact-
finding process.
Stavljenic Rukavina said her resignation would not solve the
problem as it could be solved only by establishing all facts. She
said she felt responsible for the tragic events "as a doctor and
expert."
(hina) sb rml