Govt decides to set up centre for producing plasma products

New Delhi, Oct 8 (UNI) The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for setting up of a Rs 185-crore plasma fractionation centre for processing 1.5 lakh litres of plasma annually with a view to extracting life-saviing plasma products such as albumin, gammaglobulin, thrombin and anti-hemophillic factor for patients needing them.

Currently, India imports expensive plasma proudcts worth Rs 80-90 crore every year and these products are mostly beyond the reach of poor patients who are given blood transfusion instead of plasma derivatives in case of need.

Briefing reporters, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the project is being set up as a part of the Rs 250-crore ongoing National AIDS Control Programme.

He said plasma products would be given to needy patients at affordable prices and reduce the country's dependence on imports.

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