A group of people who sued the government after contracting HIV from tainted blood products asked health minister Chikara Sakaguchi on Monday to provide help to the families of those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses and expand care for people with HIV or AIDS.
About 70 of the former plaintiffs met Sakaguchi at the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry building. According to people who attended the meeting, Sakaguchi expressed his deep regret for the tainted-blood scandal and pledged to do all he can to alleviate their suffering.
The meeting is conducted annually as part of an out-of-court settlement reached in March 1996.
The former plaintiffs called for pensions that reflect the financial difficulties the next of kin have endured and for financial aid to raise and educate their children.
They also called for expanding the capacity at the AIDS Clinic Center in Tokyo and other hospitals designated for treating HIV and AIDS patients.
The former plaintiffs contracted HIV from unheated blood products imported from the U.S. by Green Cross Corp.
More than 1,300 people have settled with the ministry and received 45 million each under the settlement.
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