David Andrews
Question:23 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Health the talks, if any, he has had with the medical profession on mandatory testing of doctors for infectious diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4355/97]
Vol. 475 No. 1
23 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Health the talks, if any, he has had with the medical profession on mandatory testing of doctors for infectious diseases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4355/97]
64 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Health if he intends to compensate health personnel who are found to be hepatitis B positive as a result of their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4324/97]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 64 together.
In December of last year I announced to the House the establishment of an expert group to examine the full range of issues surrounding the transmission of infectious diseases in healthcare settings. An earlier group had looked at the problem of hepatitis B and a circular was issued by my Department to all health agencies in December 1996 instructing them to put in place arrangements to establish the immune status of all new health service personnel who were likely to undertake exposure-prone procedures.
In the period which had elapsed since the establishment of the earlier group other issues in this whole area had come to the fore. The policy of not screening existing employees who might be at risk of transmitting infectious diseases had also been raised. I, therefore, decided to establish a new group with comprehensive terms of reference to examine all of the many complex issues which surround the transmission of infectious diseases in health agencies. The group is chaired by a deputy chief medical officer in my Department and I have asked them to report to me by the end of March. The group has already had two meetings and I am confident that they will complete the task assigned to them by the date specified.