§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what evidence his Department had evaluated(a) before and (b) since 1978 in respect of possible contamination of factor VIII with particular reference to non-hepatitis A and B. [27713]
§ Mr. HoramIn 1978, it was known that there was a non-A, non-B hepatitis virus, but it had not yet been identified as the hepatitis C virus. At the time, there was no test for it or any way of eliminating it from blood products. However, people known to be at risk carrying non-A, non-B hepatitis were not accepted as blood donors. In 1985, heat treatment was introduced with a view to inactivating viruses that were known to be transmitted by factor VIII. In 1989, hepatitis C was identified. Clinical monitoring has not shown evidence of transmission of hepatitis C by factor VIII since this time. Currently used manufacturing procedures are effective in preventing transmission of hepatitis C. Since 1991, when reliable tests first became available, all blood donations in the United Kingdom have been tested for hepatitis C. In addition, since 1993 only batches of factor VIII derived from donations, whatever their sources, which have been screened and found negative for antibody to hepatitis C virus have been allowed to be placed on the market.
§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what financial help is or is planned to be available for those who suffer from hepatitis C. [27714]
§ Mr. HoramA number of people have been infected with hepatitis C through blood or blood products. The Government have great sympathy with those infected with hepatitis C in this way, but, as no fault or negligence on the part of the national health service has been established, we have no plans to make special payments.