More details of milk scam cash finally released

The association that set up a compensation fund for victims of the melamine-tainted milk scandal four years ago has released more details, as parents continue to call for more transparency in the distribution of money.

The China Dairy Industry Association, along with medical-reimbursement fund operator China Life Insurance, released the extra information on Monday.

It was the second release of such information by the association, which was forced to respond in May last year after weeks of media reports and transparency demands by parents, including those of affected children who had yet to see any cash.

At least six children died and 300,000 others developed kidney problems, such as kidney stones, because firms added the industrial chemical melamine to baby formula to throw off protein test results.

The association set up a 1.1 billion yuan fund in July 2009 with money from 22 implicated dairy firms. About 910 million yuan was earmarked for one-off payouts and emergency medical treatment, and the remaining 200 million yuan was set aside to cover victims' medical bills until they turned 18, according to the association's statement last year.

The association said 279,056 families received 604.73 million yuan (HK$742.4 million) in one-off payouts but it did not detail how much had been spent on emergency treatment. About 62 million yuan remains, including interest. It did not give a breakdown of the payouts.

According to Ministry of Health orders, families of children killed by the tainted milk were to receive 200,000 yuan, those with severe symptoms should have received 30,000 yuan and those with regular symptoms were owed 2,000 yuan.