Canada's hepatitis C compensation package greeted with anger

David Spurgeon, Quebec

Canadians infected with the hepatitis C virus contracted through contaminated blood greeted the announcement of a long awaited offer of compensation by Canada's health ministers with anger and cries of "shame."

Only about half the estimated 50000 to 60000 people infected will be eligible for cash compensation, and if they accept the offer they then forfeit the right to sue for more funds. Those who contracted the disease between 1986 and 1990--when a screening test available in the United States was rejected by the Canadian Red Cross Society as being too expensive--can receive a one time payment of between $C22000 (£9200; $14700) and $30000. Further unspecified amounts may become available if they fall seriously ill. Those infected before or after the prescribed period will receive free drugs but little else. They say that they have been betrayed by the health ministers and have vowed to refuse the offer and fight on. Class action suits have already been launched by those infected (9 August, p 330).

Part of the delay in formulating the compensation scheme was caused by disagreements among provincial and federal governments about how much each would pay. In the end they agreed to $C800m from the federal government and the rest from the provinces. "It is a compensation plan created in hell that brings out the worst politics that I have ever seen," said Jeremy Beaty, the president of the Hepatitis C Society of Canada.

The offer says that haemophilic patients could be compensated if they can show that they were using blood products after 1986. Durhane Wong-Rieger, president of the Canadian Hemophilia Society, criticised the offer because it does not include all those infected.