ANI
Infected Blood Scandal: In a landmark address to the House of Commons, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak issued a heartfelt apology for the infected blood scandal that has plagued the nation for decades. Describing it as a "day of national shame," Sunak expressed deep regret on behalf of successive governments for the tragic events.
On Monday, following the release of an extensive inquiry report, Sunak stated, "I want to make a whole-hearted and unequivocal apology for this terrible injustice." He pledged comprehensive compensation for the victims and those affected by the scandal, as reported by Xinhua news agency. "Whatever it costs to deliver this scheme, we will pay it," he affirmed, with further details to be disclosed on Tuesday.
The 2,527-page inquiry revealed that the contaminated blood scandal, which resulted in over 3,000 deaths, "could largely, though not entirely, have been avoided." The report highlighted "a catalogue of failures" by successive governments and medical professionals, which led to thousands of patients with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders contracting HIV and hepatitis from infected blood and blood products during the 1970s and early 1990s.
Labelled as "the worst treatment disaster" in the history of Britain's National Health Service (NHS), the scandal raised profound questions about the failures that led to so many deaths and infections. The report underscored a pervasive cover-up by the government and the NHS, aimed at saving face and reducing expenses. This cover-up, the report stated, was not a coordinated conspiracy but rather a subtle and pervasive effort with chilling implications.
The scandal was traced back to supplies of a clotting factor imported from the US, which relied on blood from high-risk paid donors. The UK government established a nationwide public inquiry in 2017 to investigate how contaminated blood and blood products were administered to patients.
In 2022, the government provided interim compensation payments of 100,000 British pounds (approximately 10.25 lakh INR) to around 4,000 infected individuals and bereaved partners registered with the country’s infected blood support schemes. These measures were a prelude to the more comprehensive compensation scheme announced by Sunak.
As the UK grapples with the aftermath of this scandal, the government's commitment to accountability and compensation marks a significant step toward justice for the victims. The detailed inquiry and Sunak’s apology underscore the importance of transparency and responsibility in public health matters, ensuring that such a tragedy is never repeated.
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