Healthy Skepticism Library item: 9116

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Publication type: media release

The Hon Tony Abbott MHR - Minister for Health and Ageing
Plasma fractionation arrangements
Commonwealth of Australia Department of Health and Ageing 2007 Mar 30
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/content/mr-yr07-ta-abb025.htm

Full text:

The Commonwealth Government has announced that the processing of Australian blood for plasma products will remain in Australia.

The Government released the Flood Review of plasma fractionation arrangements in December last year and wrote to all state and territory health ministers to seek their views. The state and territory governments have not agreed to introducing changed fractionation arrangements for Australia.

Since there is no consensus for change, the current arrangements whereby Australian plasma is processed within Australia will continue. Under the current Plasma Products Agreement, CSL Bioplasma in Victoria processes plasma collected by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to make plasma products for the Australian community.

The Flood Review made a number of recommendations on blood sector issues where there is the potential for reform. The Commonwealth Government will work with states and territories to address all of the review recommendations so that Australia’s safe and affordable blood system is sustained into the future.

Under the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement (AUSFTA), the Commonwealth Government agreed to undertake a review of Australia’s plasma fractionation arrangements and to then recommend to the states and territories that future arrangements for the supply of such services be done through tender processes consistent with AUSFTA Chapter 15 (Government Procurement). The Commonwealth Government has complied with these commitments.

Under the 2003 National Blood Agreement, and as recognised in the AUSFTA, the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments must jointly agree if any change in policy is to take place.

An independent committee chaired by Mr Philip Flood AO conducted the review.

Further information on the review is at www.health.gov.au/plasmafractionationreview or by calling 1800 815 855.

For more information call Mr Abbott’s office on 02 6277 7220