Three executives of a hospital from East China's Jiangsu Province were fired after 69 patients were infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) due to the hospital's malpractice, an official report showed on Monday. 

The incident happened in people's hospital of Dongtai where 69 patients were infected with HCV during dialysis treatments in the hospital from April to May, media reports said.

The hospital's management system had not been properly implemented, causing the infection, according to the newly-released official statement from the local government on Monday, citing the expert panel who investigated the incident.  

Three executives, including the head, deputy head and the secretary of the Party committee of the hospital were removed from their posts. Dongtai city is carrying out a city-wide special inspection to eliminate the risk of infection, the statement read.

All infected patients are under treatment and are in stable condition. 

Hepatitis C is an infectious disease caused by HCV that primarily affects the liver. During the initial infection, people often have mild or no symptoms, but over years, it often leads to liver disease and occasionally cirrhosis.

In bid to reduce the infection ratio, dialysis clinics require patients carrying hepatitis b, HCV, treponema pallidum and HIV to undergo dialysis in isolated dialysis treatment areas, as ordered by the ministry of health.

Global Times