TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said
Sunday his ruling bloc will submit legislation providing 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," Fukuda said at the Prime Minister's Office, as he seeks
to resolve the scandal that has prompted public anger.
Fukuda did not give any details about the legislation.
About 200 patients have filed lawsuits in five courts across Japan,
demanding compensation from the government and drug makers Nihon
Pharmaceutical Co., Mitsubishi Pharma Corp. and the latter's subsidiary
Benesis Corp. Japanese media say about 800 others are expected to file
suit.
The plaintiffs say they contracted hepatitis C while using defective
blood-clotting medicines, mostly in the 1980s, and claim the government
and the drug-makers continued to use the medicines, despite their
knowledge that they were potentially contaminated.
Four of the five courts have ordered the defendants - the government and
drug makers - to compensate dozens of patients and the Osaka High Court
issued a settlement proposal in November. The two sides have since attempted
to reach an out-of-court settlement, although negotiations have bogged down
over how the plaintiffs would be compensated.
"We have always wanted uniform compensation after they acknowledge their
responsibility so I am very glad that the prime minister and the government
accept our wish," said Satoko Kuwata, one of the plaintiffs.
Hepatitis C is a viral disease that affects the liver and is often
transmitted through contact with infected blood.
An estimated 2 million Japanese have contracted the disease, many through
tainted blood products, media reports say.
