Creation of a no-fault compensation regime - Everyone wins

MONTREAL , Dec. 16 /CNW Telbec/ - President and Chief Executive Officer of Héma-Québec, Dr. Francine Décary, welcomes the adoption of a bill creating a no-fault compensation regime for eventual victims of blood transfusions, grafts of human tissues or stem cells distributed by Héma-Québec. Quebec is the first Canadian province to adopt such a plan, which is intended to guarantee equitable compensation for all.

"Héma-Québec is very pleased that this compensation plan has been created. It should be noted that this measure was the very first recommendation contained in the report oft the Commission of Inquiry on the Blood System in Canada ," declared Dr. Décary.

Under the plan proposed by the Government of Quebec , eligible individuals will be compensated without having to go through the judicial process. Access to compensation will be universal, easy and accelerated.

This measure will also result in substantial savings in terms of insurance premiums. In fact, Héma-Québec has paid several tens of millions of dollars to insurers since it was founded in 1998 although it has never been facing a claim concerning a defective blood product.

The procedures for applying for compensation under the regime will be published in draft regulations in the coming months.

About Héma-Québec

Héma-Québec aims to efficiently provide adequate quantities of safe, optimal blood components, substitutes, human tissues and cord blood to meet the needs of all Quebecers; provide and develop expertise along with specialized and innovative services and products in the fields of transfusion medicine and human tissue transplantation.

Héma-Québec is 1,300 employees, some 2,000 blood drives and more than 300,000 blood donors every year, 16,000 partner volunteers and more than 485,000 blood products delivered to hospitals in Quebec annually to fulfill the needs of patients.

Give blood. Give life.

For further information: Laurent Paul Ménard, External Communications Director, HEMA-QUEBEC, [email protected], Media line: [phone], www.hema-quebec.qc.ca