Health Ministry formulating SOP for circumcision

The Ministry of Health will soon formulate the standard operating procedures (SOP) for circumcisions performed at all government hospitals, medical centres and private clinics to ensure the safety of public.

The move follows three cases of botched circumcision procedures in the country since last Nov.

Health Ministry Deputy Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahya today said, the ministry is studying the proposals for the SOP to be used as a health guideline for medical practitioners to perform the procedures.

“Over 100 of thousands circumcisions procedures are performed every year, but one or two isolated cases which occurred beyond the Health Department’s control, when the case was referred to the hospital, it was learnt that a boy’s glans penis head could not be salvaged but the Ministry and the hospital attempted their best to treat it,” said Dr Hilmi to reporters here today.

Dr Hilmi was met after presenting RM200,000 to SJK (C) Yu Chye here for the repair of the school hall.

“We are in the midst of discussion to facilitate the SOP for government and private clinics,” he said.

In an incident on Nov 25, 2015, it was reported that a 10-year-old boy had his glans penis severed during a procedure performed in a mass circumcision at a surau in Sungai Buloh, Selangor.

The boy was brought to Selayang Hospital two days after the procedure after his wound did not stop bleeding.

On Dec 15 last year, a nine-year-old boy had his glans penis head severed during a circumcision procedure involving the use of a pair of scissors at a private clinic in Jalan Ipoh.

The boy was later referred to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital where the glans was reattached.

On Dec 20, a 10-year-old boy was referred to the same hospital, after the circumcision was marred by a bungled procedure, at a private clinic in Cheras. Following the incident, it was reported that his reattachment procedure turned futile due to several complications.