Committee publication · Correspondence · 16 July 2026
Correspondence from Minister Hodgson- Favipiravir Contingent Liability
Summary
Minister Hodgson informs the Health and Social Care Committee that the Department of Health and Social Care has accepted a contingent liability—an indemnity covering potential legal claims—from Japan and Fujifilm Toyama Chemical to secure favipiravir doses for UK Hantavirus response. The indemnity was agreed without the standard 14-day parliamentary notification period due to urgent public health need.
Key findings
- Department has taken on indemnity covering liabilities from favipiravir use supplied by Government of Japan and Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd
- Favipiravir recommended as preferred post-exposure prophylaxis for current Hantavirus incident; UK had limited existing stock
- Indemnity is unquantifiable and expected to crystallise only in highly unlikely circumstances
- Standard 14-day advance parliamentary notification period was not observed due to urgent public health threat and need to secure timely supply
- Department will notify Parliament through Departmental Minute and Written Ministerial Statement under special urgency procedures
Tone
ProceduralTopics
public-financehealth-emergencypharmaceutical-supply
Key actors
Sharon Hodgson MP, Layla Moran MP, Department of Health and Social Care, Government of Japan, Fujifilm Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd
Notable line
“… response to a live public health threat, it has not been possible to observe this period in advance.”
Key Quotes
“The Department has agreed to this indemnity in order to secure access to the medicine and enable its deployment as part of the public health response.”
“The liability is unquantifiable and is expected to crystallise only in highly unlikely circumstances.”
“… due to the urgent need to secure supply and ensure readiness in response to a live public health threat, it has not been possible to observe this period in advance.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗