Gerard Collins
Question:76 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Health the total amount of funding provided for hepatitis C victims; the estimated costs of providing compensation to the victims; and the number of cases involved. [11209/96]
Vol. 466 No. 2
76 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Health the total amount of funding provided for hepatitis C victims; the estimated costs of providing compensation to the victims; and the number of cases involved. [11209/96]
Limerick East): Funding in the sum of £2.49 million in 1994, £2.37 million in 1995 and £2.5 million in 1996 was/is being provided to the Blood Transfusion Service Board to support various programmes associated with hepatitis C. These include screening programmes to identify persons who have contracted hepatitis C from the use of blood products or blood transfusions; counselling services for persons who have been diagnosed positive for hepatitis C and an ex-gratia expenses scheme to ensure that persons who have contracted hepatitis C from a blood transfusion or blood product are in a position to avail of the screening, counselling and treatment services put in place for them.
Treatment for persons who have tested positive for hepatitis C from the use of blood products or blood transfusions is provided at special consultant-staffed clinics at six designated hospitals in Dublin, Cork and Galway. Total funding in the sum of £1.8 million was provided for these services in 1994; £1.98 million was provided in 1995 and £2 million has been made available in 1996. Treatment, including prescribed medication, is provided free of charge from the six designated hospitals.
Funding has been provided to support groups for persons who have contracted hepatitis C from the use of blood products or transfusions. A total of £5,000 was made available in 1994, £79,800 in 1995 and £149,500 in 1996 to Positive Action, Transfusion Positive and the Irish Haemophilia Society. An application for funding from the Irish Kidney Association to support its members who have contracted hepatits C was received by my Department this month and it will be given every consideration.