McGuinness calls for thalidomide survivors to be compensated

Mairead McGuinness MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament today called for compensation and support to be given to survivors of the drug thalidomide, in Ireland and across the EU, with a European Parliament vote in Strasbourg (Thursday).

“Thalidomide was marketed by Chemie Grünenthal GmbH in the late 1950s and early 1960s as a safe drug to treat morning sickness, headaches, coughs, insomnia and the common cold. However, it resulted in the death and malformation of thousands of babies when taken by pregnant women in many European countries, including Ireland,” MEP McGuinness said today in voicing her support for compensation and support for survivors.

“Today, a majority of MEPs and I voted to support those survivors and called on Member States, Germany in particular and other national governments, to ensure fair treatment of their own thalidomide survivors. 

“We further called on the European Commission to coordinate actions and measures seeking to formally recognise and provide compensation to thalidomide survivors. The Commission should create a framework protocol under which all European citizens affected by thalidomide would receive similar amounts of compensation with An EU-wide programme for assistance and support, including both financial and welfare provisions, for victims and their families.”

McGuinness, a Member of the Parliament’s Environment, Public Health & Food Safety Committee, further noted recent independent reports in Germany (Heidelberg University Report and Cologne University Report) and in the UK (Firefly Report) concluded that the survivors, who are now in their 50s and 60s, need increasing support for mobility and for living independently, as their bodies are rapidly deteriorating owing to the nature of their disabilities and to the lack of support over the years since their birth.

In the years since the drug’s use, a major lack of effective pharmaceutical surveillance was found to have occurred in Germany, unlike in other countries such as the USA, France, Portugal and Turkey. However, no proper determination of the guilt of the manufacturer was established and steps were taken to prevent civil proceedings, which may well have prevented victims from obtaining justice or adequate financial support.

The parliamentary resolution also calls on the manufacturer of the drug to shoulder its responsibilities.