Britain disburses $16.5M in first round of payments to tainted blood victims

Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Ten victims who received blood tainted with Hepatitis C and HIV over 20 years in Britain have received nearly $16.5 million in compensation, London health officials announced Thursday.

A press release from the British government called the deal between the government and the blood scandal victims a "historic milestone."

"Victims of the infected blood scandal are due to receive their first compensation payments this week," the release said.

Tens of thousands of people were infected with tainted blood between the 1970s and 1990s, many of which contained infected clotting factor products.

The identities of the victims who are receiving compensation have not been released, and the press release said an additional 25 people have been invited to make their claims, and will also receive offers of compensation. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority, established by the British government following the scandal to handle the claims for compensation, said it intends to broaden the program in the new year.

"After so many years of injustice, I hope that this brings some reassurance to a community who have suffered immeasurably that action is being taken," Nick Thomas-Symonds, Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office, said in the release.

The first 10 victims are expected to start receiving compensation this week. Thomas-Symonds said the current government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer has set aside nearly $15 billion to compensate victims in the tainted blood scandal.