Barría admits "mistake" in failure to notify AIDS patients of their status

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SANTIAGO.- The Minister of Health, Soledad Barría, has acknowledged that it was a "mistake" to not reveal the situation at the Iquique Hospital when, on September 4th of this year, the Ministry was informed that 25 people suffering from the HIV virus had not been notified of their condition.

"I think we made a mistake there, not revealing it, but we continued a complete investigation", the minister told Radio Cooperativa.

Facing a possible constitutional accusation from the Alianza, which may also be supported by some members of the Socialist Party (PS), Barría has stated that what is most important for the moment is to focus on solutions and has said that she will not resign from her position "as long as the President supports me".

The head of Health Care admitted that there are political responsibilities involved in the scandal, but reiterated that the problem began in 2004, when she was not the minister and the President had still not taken her position at La Moneda.

With regards to how the hospital scandal was handled, the minister stressed that an administrative investigation –which has already revealed preliminary conclusions about the matter- was performed as soon as she found out about what had happened.