Chile's Health Minister Resigns Amid AIDS Scandal

Chilean Health Minister Maria Soledad Barria resigned Tuesday following an AIDS scandal earlier this month and the news on Monday that President Michelle Bachelet plans a cabinet reshuffle ahead of next year's presidential election. "The president has accepted the resignation of Minister Barria and has designated her deputy, Jeanette Vega, to replace her," said Government Minister Francisco Vidal. Barria's ministry came under fire after it emerged that a hospital in Iquique in northern Chile failed to notify dozens of patients that they had tested positive for HIV. Prior to quitting, Barria removed the hospital's head of medicine, supervising nurse and blood bank chief pending a probe into possible negligence. "I am quitting so that we can set aside political accusations that seek to sling mud at a [health] system which is good," Barria said.

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