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Criminal case opened on hospitals disinfectants
Prosecutors have opened a criminal case on thwarting of disease control and falsification and substitution of food or other products, the Prosecutors' Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice (PICCJ, the General Prosecutor's Office of Romania's Supreme Court - editor's note) informs in a release sent on Wednesday.
According to the PICCJ, its Criminal Investigation and Forensic Department has opened the case on publicly reported information about disinfectants manufactured by a domestic company, sold to and used in medical units.
Criminal police officers with the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police (IGPR) have been assigned to carry out some criminal prosecution acts, including by participating in the collection of evidence for specific tests, in collaboration with the Health Ministry's Control Body, the source adds.
Less than 5 percent of more than 3,500 disinfectant samples collected from the hospitals have been not compliant, while 95 percent have been compliant, Health Minister Patriciu Achimas-Cadariu said Wednesday in relation to an inquiry into disinfectants used in Romania's public hospitals.
"[There have been] 3,526 test in total. There are 3,526 collected samples. Out of them, less than 5 percent filed to comply with various tested biocides. Testing was conducted at public laboratories of hospitals or public health directorates as well as private laboratories under contracts with the hospitals. The sanitation tests - checking surfaces, hands, objects for adequate cleanliness to see whether or not the product used have had the expected result in destroying microorganisms. In over 95 percent of the instances, the tests showed compliance. (...) 150 tests showed lack thereof. Because this is a criminal probe, I cannot offer details. (...) I believe our patients are safe right now. We have followed the standard procedure currently certified in Romania," Cadariu told journalists.
He added that he ordered administrative measures where tests showed lack of compliance that can go as far as to banning the use of the bactericides in question.
"Where tests showed lack of compliance, I ordered administrative measures, which can go as far as to banning the use of the substances in equation pending clarifications. All the results will be made available to the investigating authorities. Health Ministry specialists are closely working with prosecutors by providing any requested information to the case prosecutor, while the Health Ministry is publicly voicing readiness to contribute to finding the truth in this case and calling the culprits to account," said Cadariu.
He added that hospitals will not be penalised.
"Non-compliant samples always occur, which does not mean other biocides of substances are problem-free; sanitation samples are collected all the time," said Cadariu.
About the Oncological Institute of Cluj, the minister said a non-compliant sample was found there and the product was quarantined.
"From 2012 to 2015, the institute acquired from the said company through public tender under the SEAP electronic public procurement system two disinfectants. There were three framework agreements and 13 subsequent contracts involved. And yes, there was a non-compliant sample found at the Oncological Institute of Cluj. That biocide was quarantined," said Cadariu.
In his opinion, hospitals should be made responsible in terms of management because it is there that problems originate.