Vol. 435 No. 9
20 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the disclosure that substantial quantities of blood, contaminated with the HIV virus, had been distributed in Germany over the past ten years, any blood or blood products were imported from Germany in the relevant period; the procedures, if any, that were in place for the screening of any such blood; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The problems in Germany relate primarily to blood and liquid plasma. I am informed by the Blood Transfusion Service Board that blood and liquid plasma have not been imported by them into Ireland from any country in the past ten years. Ireland has achieved self-sufficiency in blood and liquid plasma. In Ireland, there is a very high standard of donor screening which accords with the EC and Council of Europe guidelines. I am confident that the screening procedures of the Blood Tansfusion Service Board are adequate to ensure high quality blood which conforms to the highest international standards.
Whilst, as I have already indicated, the problems in Germany relate primarily to blood and liquid plasma, I wish to set out the position in regard to blood products. I am informed that from 1987 to 1989, Irish plasma was exported for fractionation under contract to Armour Pharmaceuticals in Germany and subsequently re-imported as blood products. The plasma used in these blood products was from Irish donors and the finished blood product was virtually inactivated.
The Blood Transfusion Service Board has also informed me that any blood products imported by them from Germany have been virally inactivated and do not pose any risk of HIV to any Irish patient who may have received them. Notwithstanding this, the Blood Transfusion Sevice Board, as a pecautionary measure, has implemented a recall of one product imported from Germany.
I understand that certain other blood products originating in Germany have been imported into this country other than through the Blood Transfusion Servce Board and while these products have also been virally inactivated, the National Drugs Advisory Board has, as a precautionary measure, directed last week that all of these products be withdrawn.
I have asked my Department to review the procedures in place at present to ensure that the highest possible levels of safety in relation to blood and blood products continue to be maintained.
