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The final report from the seven-year inquiry into the UK infected blood scandal concluded that patients were knowingly exposed to risks and the medical catastrophe could largely have been avoided.  

The British medical scandal resulted in nearly 30,000 people being infected with hepatitis C and HIV, as a result of receiving contaminated blood or contaminated clotting factor products between 1970 and 1991.  

The final report indicated that the UK government covered up the scandal “to save face and to save expense.” 

In the 1970s, the availability of a new treatment for haemophilia, known as factor VIII/IX, necessitated the use of blood plasma, which was in short supply. This led to the UK opting for imports from the US. Much of the imported blood was bought from high-risk donors, including prisoners and drug users. One vial could contain clotting proteins from tens of thousands of people, meaning it would take only one person carrying the virus to contaminate the entire batch.

The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has announced a proposed framework for the global recognition of medical devices. In a statement of policy intent, the agency detailed the UK Government’s intent to acknowledge regulatory approvals from specific countries. This policy aims to facilitate access to quality-assured medical devices and streamline the assessment process. 

It focuses on certain device types and classes, with prior approvals from Australia, Canada, the EU, and the US being considered for recognition. This initiative is designed to reduce the duplication of assessments by comparable regulators, allowing resources to be allocated to evaluate more innovative products. 

In addition to the countries already listed, the MHRA is in talks with the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) to include Japan among recognised regulatory bodies.