The Guardian newspaper has published evidence showing that, as early as 1983, UK government scientific advisors were aware of health risks from imported blood products, but failed to act, fearing disruption to the blood supply. Measures to protect the blood supply against HIV were not introduced until 1985.
Minutes of a meeting of the Committee on Safety of Medicines held on July 13th 1983 have been obtained by The Guardian. The meeting was told that “patients who repeatedly receive blood clotting-factor concentrates appear to be at risk” of AIDS. The committee was also informed that “blood from homosexuals and IV drug users in areas of high [AIDS] prevalence – e.g. New York and California” involved the highest risk. Nevertheless, the committee decided that it was “not feasible on the grounds of supply” to withdraw imported blood products and that the risks were outweighed by the benefits to people with haemophilia.
Stringent measures to protect the UK’s blood supply were eventually introduced in 1985, and these have been largely effective with HIV or hepatitis-infected donations very rarely entering the blood supply. However, it is estimated that 5,000 people with haemophilia contracted hepatitis C virus from contaminated blood products in the 1970s and early 1980s, with 1,200 of these also contracting HIV. Over 1,700 people with haemophilia have since died of HIV or hepatitis C.
A private enquiry organised by the families of individuals infected with HIV after receiving blood products is ongoing.