South Korea replaces health minister criticised over MERS outbreak

Women wearing masks to prevent contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) walk at Myeongdong shopping district in central Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean President Park Geun-hye removed her minister of health on Tuesday after criticism over the handling of an outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) which killed 36 people as it spread through hospitals.

Minister of Health and Welfare Moon Hyung-pyo, an economist and expert on welfare policy, was criticised for a decision to withhold the names of hospitals that had handled MERS patients in the early stage of the outbreak, fuelling confusion and fear.