UK to spend $12.7 billion on compensation in infected-blood scandal

Britain is set to allocate over £10 billion ($12.7 billion) to compensate thousands affected by the contaminated blood scandal of the 1970s and 1980s, as reported by The Sunday Times. This crisis, one of the gravest in the National Health Service’s history, involved around 30,000 individuals who received HIV or hepatitis C-infected blood, leading to approximately 3,000 deaths and many more affected lives.

 

The contaminated blood, partly imported from the U.S., was used in transfusions and hemophilia treatments. Victims and their families have long demanded justice, compensation, and explanations for the negligence despite known risks. An independent inquiry report is expected soon, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak anticipated to issue an apology and announce a compensation package.

 

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt acknowledged the scandal as the worst of his lifetime, expressing regret for delayed actions by successive governments. Interim compensation payments of £100,000 have already been made to some victims, totaling around £400 million, following the inquiry’s recommendation in 2022. The final inquiry report will address whether the treatments should have been halted sooner and if there were cover-up attempts.

Source: CGTN