Vol. 522 No. 3
113 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health and Children the procedures in place for the public to be aware of where blood and non-blood products made from human tissue originated prior to presentation for sale here in view of the high concerns over contaminated products; the additional measure which can be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18350/00]
I understand the Deputy is referring to clotting factor concentrates, Factors 8 and 9, which are imported by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS), formerly the Blood Transfusion Service Board, for use in the treatment of persons with haemophilia. As the Deputy is aware, plasma derived clotting factors manufactured in the 1980s are implicated in the infection with HIV and hepatitis C of a significant number of persons with haemophilia, many of whom have died. Matters associated with these historical infections are currently under investigation at the Lindsay tribunal.
Significant improvements in the safety of clotting factor concentrates have taken place since the 1980s. In 1997 hospitals replaced plasma derived Factor 8 with a recombinant product. Recombinant products are genetically produced rather than fractionated from human plasma and accordingly are considered to be safer. Plasma derived Factor 9 was also replaced by hospitals with a recombinant product as soon as it became available in 1999. Recombinant products are considerably more expensive and my Department's allocation to health agencies increased by almost £13 million over the period 1998-9 to cover the higher costs of this product replacement programme. A further £2.25 million was made available this year. These products are licensed medicinal products and are therefore regulated by the Irish Medicines Board, an independent statutory body. The Irish Haemophilia Society welcomed the changeover to recombinant products.
