National blood supply security boost
Security of the national blood supply will be boosted by a new $213 million, world-class processing facility based in Melbourne. Opening the new centre earlier this week, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, said the centre was a “major enhancement” to the nation’s health infrastructure.
Security of the national blood supply will be boosted by a new $213 million, world-class processing facility based in Melbourne.
Opening the new centre earlier this week, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King, said the centre was a “major enhancement” to the nation’s health infrastructure, as it would manufacture about 30% of Australia’s national fresh blood supply.
According to Ms King, more than 600,000 Australians will give about 1.4 million blood donations this year and there is the need for their generosity to be “processed” in the most efficient way possible to ensure safe, high-quality products for all Australians.
The federal government is contributing more than half of the cost of the new facility and its future running costs, with the remainder funded by the state governments.
The federal government contribution is through its $5 billion Health and Hospital Fund, established in 2009 as part of its broader nation-building infrastructure program.
The Australian Red Cross Blood Service will operate the new Melbourne centre under a funding agreement with the National Blood Authority.
Ms King said the facility would undertake all Victorian and Tasmanian testing, processing and distribution.
“It contains the latest laboratory facilities and specialised equipment to ensure the safety and quality of all fresh blood products.
“It is modular, flexible, and expandable and can be scaled to meet blood service requirements for the next 20 to 30 years.”
Ms King added the facility was the latest addition to national health infrastructure with similar blood processing facilities already in place in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth.
“The centres are a good example of collaboration between the Australian and state and territory governments and the private sector” she said.
“All governments are committed to ensuring secure supply of fresh blood components for the clinical needs of Australian patients.
“The government sees building health infrastructure as a corner-stone to providing Australians with a high-quality health care system that will meet the needs of future generations.”
