Dying like a dog: Ministry's reply

WITH reference to your report, we would like to clarify the policies regarding burial of AIDS patients, financing for AIDS patients and public education on AIDS.

You have indicated in your report that anyone who dies of AIDS is double-bagged and incinerated within 24 hours. We would like to explain the rationale for such a practice. The bodies of deceased AIDS patients are required to be cremated or buried within 24 hours as an unembalmed body decomposes rapidly in Singapore's hot weather. Decomposition accentuates the risk of exposure and transmission as body fluids will exude from the body. This is also the practice in many other countries. The ruling is enforced to ensure public safety to the embalmers and other handlers, to minimize their risk of exposure to the virus which can remain infectious for long periods in body fluids after death.

You may wish to note that the government provides subsidy to patients under the basic medical care package. Treatment involving the use of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs is not included in the basic package and is therefore not subsidized. Thus, as with all other non-standard treatments which are not in the basic medical care package, the full cost of the drug is borne by the patients themselves.

However, just like any other Singaporean patient, HIV patients also have access to subsidized basic healthcare in all public hospital and clinics. They are also allowed to use their Medisave funds for the payment of anti-HIV drugs.

The Ministry is not aware of any case where the hospital or ambulance service refused to accept or respond to AIDS patients because of his/her HIV status. Our hospitals do not deny treatment to HIV patients. We have no reason to believe that this instruction to the hospitals is "routinely ignored." We would, be grateful if you could let us have the details of specific cases which you are aware of so that we can conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

With no cure or vaccine for the disease, health education is the mainstay for the HIV/AIDS control program in Singapore. We have embarked on nation-wide AIDS Education Program since 1985. The Program aims to educate Singaporeans on the modes of transmission, high-risk activities, and the precautionary measures to be taken. Over the years, the education program has become more focused in reaching out to its target audience so that they could make responsible and informed decisions.

Lastly, we would like to bring to your attention that there were 199 reported new cases of HIV/AIDS in 1998 and not 854 as stated in your report.

• Web posted in ASIAWEEK May 5, 2000.
   
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