Non-haemophiliacs yet to find out if they get bad-blood compo

Hundreds of people infected with the potentially-fatal virus hepatitis C through contaminated blood products are yet to find out whether they will receive compensation from the Government.

The Haemophilia Foundation of New Zealand (HFNZ), which has been waging a 15-year battle on behalf of 172 haemophiliacs infected with hepatitis C, announced yesterday that the Ministry of Health has committed to a treatment and welfare package for its members.

While the package has yet to be approved by Cabinet, and the Health Ministry refuses to confirm it, the society said the offer on the table included:

* Financial compensation of around $60,000 per person

* Enhanced access to treatment

* Establishment of a "one stop shop" at ACC for processing and managing the claims

* Payments towards individual legal costs

* A "statement of regret" from the Prime Minister.

HFNZ President Dave McCone said once approved by Cabinet, the package would be offered to all New Zealanders with haemophilia who contracted Hepatitis C from products containing infected blood products.

However, the foundation could not confirm whether all of the estimated 700 people infected before blood screening was introduced in 1992 would be eligible.

The Government previously set aside a $7 million package in 2002 to compensate victims after an inquiry found that screening tests were available from 1990, but not introduced for another two years.

However, to qualify for $44,000 compensation, claimants must prove infection between February 1990 and July 1992, when testing began.

This proved impossible for many haemophiliacs, who need regular transfusions and may have been re-infected repeatedly.

The strict criteria were out of step with similar international compensation schemes like the United Kingdom's, where claimants need only prove infection before a certain date.

Of 100 people who have settled claims in New Zealand so far, only two or three are haemophiliacs.

Speaking today, World Haemophilia Day, Eastbourne man Steve Waring said all sufferers should be eligible for compensation.

"I've only been working for haemophiliacs but I can't imagine that it wouldn't apply right across the board to everyone."

While the deal had still to be finalised and could take another six months to come into effect, he said there was "a huge amount of relief" in the community.

He contracted hepatitis C sometime in the 1980s but was not diagnosed until 1992.

"I've spent the years since then trying to hunt out the truth of how this disaster happened to all of us.

"It's really frustrating when the international evidence was this should not have happened, or certainly not to this extent.

"But now we can put this whole thing to bed and try to get on with our lives."

Within the last couple of years, the Government increased access to the most powerful treatments for hepatitis C.

While Mr Waring knew of some people who had undergone treatment, he said the "significant side effects" had put others off.

"Basically you have to take a year out of your life, and some people just can't afford to do that.

"But when this financial package comes through, more people will be encouraged to get treatment."

The Health Ministry is refusing to confirm whether a deal has been made.

Speaking yesterday, spokesman Peter Abernethy said the ministry was considering the foundation's claim and was working with the Crown Law Office on the matter.

The ministry had given an undertaking to the foundation it would provide an update on the process by June.

- NZPA