A number of doctors expressed concern to the State's SARS expert group that the healthcare system would not be able to cope with any possible SARS outbreak precipitated by athletes travelling to the Special Olympics, it has emerged.
A senior doctor at a Dublin hospital said yesterday the committee was told doctors on the ground were concerned about "a lack of back-up facilities if things went wrong".
The doctor, who did not want to be named because of the political controversy which has followed the decision, said: "We all feel we wouldn't be able to cope if there was a crisis. There are not enough isolation facilities and negative pressure rooms".
However, it was claimed by Dr Anthony Staines, lecturer in epidemiology at University College Dublin, that an outbreak, if it occurred, could be effectively managed. He said the Government had overreacted in deciding not to invite Special Olympics athletes and their assistants from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and the Philippines. "I think it's a mistake," he said, before urging the expert group to reconsider.
The expert group, in coming to its decision, also considered the public health doctors' dispute but its chairman Dr Jim Kiely said its conclusion would have been the same irrespective of whether the public health doctors were available or not.
As the Government faced criticism over the decision from several quarters including groups representing the disabled, both the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, moved to defend their action. Mr Martin rejected suggestions the decision was discriminatory. Mr Julian Davis, from the Special Olympics Organising Committee, said it was strange there was no restriction on the teams travelling to the Games as spectators. The only restriction seemed to be on them competing, he said.
The organising committee's chairman, Mr Denis O'Brien, described the decision as bigoted. However, he said it was time to move on and the committee was now intent on trying to get the expert group change its mind when it met it next week.
The chairwoman of the National Disability Authority, Ms Angela Kerins, said she was unconvinced by the Government's explanation for its decision. "It beggars belief that anyone could get off a plane or a boat entering Ireland from a SARS infected country and not be challenged but that a group of people with special needs will be singled out as being unwelcome at the Games," she said. Dr Mike Ryan, of the World Health Organisation, said last night said he was "happy with the rationale" offered by the Government for its decision. On Thursday, WHO spokesman Mr Dick Thompson said the decision was not consistent with WHO guidelines.
Taiwan's health minister resigns; Surprise and resentment; Best defence is not exclusion: page 3
Editorial comment: page 15