Print

Mail

wiki links

Relatives of SARS patients ask for fair compensation

Relatives of SARS patients treated last year in Hoping Hospital protest in front of the hospital yesterday. PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES

Despite escalating concerns regarding China's SARS situation, Taipei's Hoping Hospital yesterday looked back on the hospital's historic quarantine effort during last year's SARS outbreak, while relatives of SARS patients called on the government to provide fair compensation for their losses.

"Time flies -- it was only about one hour ago last year that these hospital gates behind me were let down, sealing off the hospital," said Taipei Municipal Hoping Hospital Superintendent Chu Dachen (璩大成).

"It is with a grateful heart that we look back on that period of time," Chu said.

Exactly one year ago yesterday, during the height of the SARS epidemic, 1,543 hospital staff members and patients were sealed off in a bid to curb the outbreak. According to the hospital's records, 61 of those quarantined had subsequently passed away.

The hospital presented a slide show of the events that took place during the quarantine period and lit candles in honor of those who had suffered in that time.

Meanwhile, roughly 20 relatives of SARS victims gathered outside the hospital, holding signs to protest the hospital's handling of the SARS situation and accusing the government of giving hospital staff special treatment in compensation. They further protested that the hospital had not extended invitations to yesterday's commemorative activities to them.

The groups stood in the rain, placing flowers on the hospital plaque in memory of deceased relatives.

Lee Ming-yueh (李明岳), who had lost his grandfather to SARS, explained that the group felt that a compensation of about NT$2 million would be commensurate with their losses. "The government gives NT$100,000 to cover the funeral costs for each deceased family member. In addition, Taipei City gives city residents another NT$20,000," said Chiu Chan-hsien (邱展賢), a division chief at the Taipei City Government Department of Health.

In terms of compensation for loss due to death, Chiu said that Hoping staff members with civil servant status are compensated over NT$10,000,000, and Hoping staff members who are not civil servants are compensated about NT$4,000,000.

However, for those not employed by Hoping Hospital, the government has agreed to compensate NT$1,000,000 for loss due to death. The figure is still subject to change pending ongoing negotiations.
This story has been viewed 5838 times.