The Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA) has been established to provide compensation to victims and families affected by the contaminated blood scandal, following the conclusion of a public inquiry into the worst treatment disaster in NHS history. Regulations for the compensation scheme were recently laid out, with payments expected to begin by the end of the year.
The scheme has been welcomed by campaigners, including Jason Evans of the Factor 8 campaign group, who lost his father to HIV and hepatitis contracted through contaminated blood. While acknowledging that no amount of compensation can replace those who died, Evans described the scheme as a “massive step forward” and a fair resolution overall.
The contaminated blood scandal affected around 30,000 individuals, resulting in over 3,000 deaths due to infections with HIV, hepatitis, or both in the 1970s-80s. The new compensation scheme is estimated to cost the government up to £10bn, with awards to be made based on injury, social impact, suffering caused by infection, cost of care, and financial losses.
The scheme aligns with recommendations made by the infected blood inquiry and aims to provide compensation to both infected individuals and affected family members. The Hepatitis C Trust has expressed concerns about disparities in compensation for sufferers of different diseases, emphasizing the need for fair treatment across all affected individuals.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, paymaster general and minister for the Cabinet Office, expressed pride in signing the law to establish the compensation scheme and paid tribute to those who fought for justice. The government hopes the scheme will provide due compensation without the need for legal processes, addressing the long-standing injustices faced by victims of the scandal.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com