The British government has announced compensation to thousands of victims of the tainted blood scandal that killed 2,400 people in the United Kingdom in the 1970s and 1980s. Victims will receive a first payment of £100,000 in line with recommendations issued at the end of July by the head of the public inquiry committee on this long-running case.

In this context, former judge Brian Langstaff pointed out that “the moral obligation to pay compensation is beyond doubt”, urging the government to pay compensation immediately, without waiting for the completion of the investigation. The government has announced that by the end of October, tax-exempt payments will be made for patients or partners of the deceased.

Thousands of hemophiliacs contracted hepatitis C and AIDS from blood transfusions in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The blood transfusion, brought from the United States, was carried out at National Health Service (NHS) facilities.