Call for inquiry into suppliers of infected blood products

THE Lindsay Report has shown that there were serious failures on the part of State agencies to the haemophilia community, the Irish Haemophilia Society said yesterday.

These failures have had tragic consequences and resulted in death and misery for haemophiliacs, IHS chairman Brian O’Mahony said.

The IHS says a full inquiry is needed into the role of pharmaceutical companies into the infection of haemophilia suffers with HIV and Hepatitis C through contaminated blood products.

Welcoming the publication of the report, Mr O’Mahony said it was a very important and landmark day for people with haemophilia.

“It marks the culmination of five years of lobbying on the part of the IHS to find the cause of infection to over 260 haemophilia sufferers with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood and blood products,” he said.

The IHS highlighted that the report is critical of the actions and policies of the BTSB in the treatment and care of haemophilia sufferers in the country.

The lessons of the scandal needed to be learned by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service, Mr O’Mahony said.

“It is not possible for an organisation to go forward if they don’t appreciate the mistakes of the past. I would hope the IBTS will themselves absorb the recommendations,” he said.

The work of the IHS has never stopped and will now continue, according to Mr O’Mahony said. “We’re not going away,” he said.

Questions regarding the role of pharmaceutical companies remain unanswered, said IHS administrator Rosemary Daly.

“The IHS calls on the Minister for Health to ensure that the facts surrounding the pharmaceutical companies emerge through a full and rigorous inquiry at a future date,” she said.

Health Minister Micheál Martin gave a commitment that, following publication of the Lindsay Report, he would return for further discussion on the terms of such a tribunal, Ms Daly said.

“This should never have happened and should never happen again. The recommendations are important for every citizen in the State,” she said.

Due to the length and detail of the report, the IHS said it will study it in greater detail over the coming days to make a more considered response following consultation with its members.