JAPAN: Japan Prime Minister Says Ruling Bloc to Submit Bill to Aid Victims of Tainted Blood Products

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

JAPAN: Japan Prime Minister Says Ruling Bloc to Submit Bill to Aid Victims of Tainted Blood Products

Associated Press (12.23.07) - Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Chisaki Watanabe

On Sunday, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said his ruling bloc is working on legislation that will provide aid to about 1,000 people exposed to hepatitis C through defective blood-clotting products sold by pharmaceutical companies. "I hope the bill will be passed quickly and want everyone to feel relieved soon," said Fukada.

Some 200 patients have filed lawsuits in five courts across Japan, asking for compensation from the government, Nihon Pharmaceutical Co., Mitsubishi Pharma Corp. and its subsidiary, Benesis Corp. Media sources say about 800 others are expected to file suit.

The plaintiffs claim to have contracted hepatitis C while using blood-clotting medicines, mostly in the 1980s. They say the government and drug makers continued to administer the medicines despite knowledge they were potentially contaminated.

Four of the five courts have ordered the government and drug makers to compensate dozens of patients. The Osaka High Court issued a settlement proposal in November. Attempts to reach an out-of-court settlement have stalled over how plaintiffs would be compensated.

Media reports estimate some 2 million Japanese are infected with hepatitis C, primarily through tainted blood products.
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