Mikulski Praises DOJ Action To Compensate Victims Of New England Compounding Center Fungal Meningitis Outbreak
Press Release
U.S. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.), a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today praised the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of Victims of Crime's (OVC) announcement that it will make a one-time award of $40 million to provide compensation to victims from the New England Compounding Center (NECC) fungal meningitis outbreak. The 2012 outbreak left 75 dead, including five Marylanders.
"The actions by this one compounding pharmacy left 75 people dead from fungal meningitis. In my own state of Maryland there have been 28 confirmed cases and five deaths," Senator Mikulski said. "This should have never happened. It's been four long years for these victims, and they deserve to be compensated for their injuries and deaths of their loved ones. I will continue fighting to ensure the safety and security of our drug supply chain, and make sure a tragedy like this never happens again."
The $40 million award will be made to the Massachusetts Department of the Attorney General who agreed to handle the compensation claims for all NECC victims throughout the United States because the NECC was located in Framingham, Massachusetts. These funds come from federal criminal fines, penalties, and forfeited bonds, not taxpayer dollars. The Massachusetts Attorney General's office will be in charge of developing a system for victims to apply for these funds and determining the formula for individual awards.
Senator Mikulski has been fighting for justice for the victims of the NECC fungal meningitis outbreak since 2012. As a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee she introduced the Pharmacy Compounding Quality and Accountability Act. This legislation, signed into law in November 2013, established clear boundaries between state roles and responsibilities over pharmacies and the FDA when it comes to ensuring the safety of compounded medicines.
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