No longer a need for point-by-point rebuttal says health minister Ashford quizzed in HoK over intellectual property claims
The health minister says he will not be issuing a point-by-point rebuttal over accusations of intellectual property theft.
Dr Rachel Glover, the lead scientist behind the Island s Covid-19 testing lab, made the claims against the Department of Health and Social Care last month.
In retaliation David Ashford said a full response would be published - however then revealed to the Public Accounts Committee that it was no longer his plan.
He told Onchan MHK Julie Edge, who tabled a question in this week s House of Keys sitting asking for the statement, that his points have already been made:
Public still waiting on Ashford s promised point by point rebuttal Health minister due to contest accusations from Dr Glover
The public deserves to see a point by point rebuttal promised by the health minister, following accusations against the Department of Health and Social Care of intellectual property theft.
Onchan MHK Julie Edge is on the Public Accounts Committee, which is currently looking into coronavirus protocols.
When giving evidence to the PAC Dr Rachel Glover, who set up the on-Island testing lab, accused DHSC of stealing her intellectual property after she had resigned.
On 2 April, Health Minister David Ashford promised a complete rebuttal of her accusations, which Ms Edge says has yet to appear:
No clear evidence genomics needed for immediate Covid response Ewart repeats message to committee
The director of public health has repeated her message that on-Island genomic testing wouldn t change government s response to new variants of Covid-19.
Dr Henrietta Ewart gave evidence to the Public Accounts Committee today as part of an inquiry into government s handling of the virus, which is covering use of sequencing, isolation rules for the Steam Packet and border controls.
Currently PCR Covid tests are sent to a lab in Liverpool for genomics sequencing with an estimated to 7-10 day turn around.
An offer has been made by the managing director of Taxa Genomics, Dr Rachel Glover, to do them here, with a 24-hour processing time to help more quickly inform decision makers, and the public, which variant is present on-Island and if clusters are linked.
Two sides to every story says chief minister Quayle responds to scientist s allegations
The chief minister says he’s reluctant to get involved in the ongoing row between the government and the scientist who set up Covid-19 testing on the Island.
Howard Quayle has admitted he hasn’t read or listened to the evidence given to the Public Accounts Committee by Dr Rachel Glover.
Last week she claimed the Department of Health and Social Care had stolen her intellectual property – a claim the department denies.
Responding to a question from Paul Moulton, of Isle of Man Television, Howard Quayle said there were two sides to every story: