Centre to set up Plasma Fractionation Unit

New Delhi, Nov 23 (UNI) The Centre today said a Plasma Fractionation Unit would be set up during Phase-III of the National AIDS Control Programme to provide life-saving drugs to patients suffering from Hemophilia.

The unit, with a capacity to process 50,000 litres of plasma annually, will be made operational within two years of the launch of Phase III of the National AIDS Control Programme, Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told the Lok Sabha today.

The capacity would be eventually increased to 100,000 litres, he said in reply to written questions.

There are 12,180 patients of Hemophilia registered with the Hemophilia Federation of India. "These patients will require 10 million units of life-saving Factor VIII and Factor IX annualy," Mr Ramadoss said.

UNI SH HS KN1457