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Date: July 14, 1995
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact:  HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343

Statement of HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala on
Release of Report on HIV and the Blood Supply

In the early- and mid-1980s, thousands of Americans who hadhemophilia and others who received blood transfusions were infected with HIV. That was a national tragedy. Every instance of suffering from HIV/AIDS, and every AIDS-related death, diminishes us as a people.

For that reason, and in response to public concern, in 1993 I asked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to undertake a comprehensive study of the events leading to HIV transmission to people with hemophilia during the 1980s.

The IOM study covers the period 1982-1986 and the decision- making process during that time. It does not treat the period since 1986, in which we have made a number of changes to improve the blood safety assurance process.

The IOM has done a valuable service by analyzing the events that occurred between 1982 and 1986 and suggesting how we can learn from them. While different individuals and organizations may have divergent views and recollections about events that occurred 9-13 years ago, there is no doubt that during a time of great scientific uncertainty, our country's public health system missed opportunities to intervene. We cannot change the past, but we must learn from the past so that history does not repeat itself.

We embrace the goals reflected in the IOM recommendations: the need for active top-level leadership; effective coordination across the Department's agencies; a system for responding quickly and decisively in the case of crises; the inclusion of multiple stakeholders in decisions; and accountability to the American people. In principle, we accept the IOM recommendations; in practice, I believe we have already implemented many of them. We must continue to do everything in our power to see that similar tragedies will not occur again.

To assess all of the recommendations in light of current practices, I have created a Task Force made up of seven senior public health officials, and asked them to report back to me as soon as possible.

Even though no system is risk-free, the blood supply in the United States is very safe. The blood test for HIV became available in 1985, and many more safeguards exist today than did between 1982 and 1986.

Our blood supply is a well-spring of life, a source of security, and vivid testimony to the civic spirit that unites us as one people. Our obligation as health leaders and citizens is to protect this national resource -- now and forever.

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