AN amendment to the health Bill, to be introduced in the Daily today, which will provide free medical care for those who contracted hepatitis C through blood transfusions, has been criticised by those set to benefit. The Bill originally mentioned only people who had contracted the disease directly or indirectly through Anti-D.
The Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, has been criticised by the group Transfusion Positive. A spokeswoman for the group said last night there was still "a lack of clarity" about who could receive free medical treatment.
"These people were excluded from the original Bill but even now when they have been included, nothing is certain," said the spokeswoman for Transfusion Positive, which represents 200 people.
She said the difficulty with the amendment was that obstacles could be put in the way of hepatitis C sufferers in receiving free treatment.
She said people infected through transfusions Were encountering difficulties in recovering medical files which, in many cases, had been destroyed.
If someone applied to the hepatitis C tribunal, set up by the Minister for Health, and had her case rejected, a health board could refuse to give free treatment. Equally, if she decided not to apply to the tribunal, the health board could also refuse.
"If they find themselves in a situation where they do not qualify for the tribunal because they cannot satisfy the burden of proof, then who is going to satisfy the health board? The Minister has failed to take into account the level of officiousness which exists in the health services.
"These people are caught between a rock and a hard place Looking for the health care they separately need."
The Minister is to amend the section of the Bill which covers free health services for people who have contracted hepatitis C. Previously the Bill mentioning only people who have contracted the disease directly or indirectly through Anti-D.
The amendment will include more than 500 people who have had blood transfusions or a blood product within the State.
Ms Jane O'Brien, the spokes woman for Positive Action which represents 700 women infected through Anti-D, said they were concerned there would not be enough funding to cover the free health care needed by people with hepatitis C.