KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 8): The Ministry of Health (MOH) aims to build the country's first plasma fractionation plant within the next five years as a strategic step to reduce dependence on external sources for critical medicine supplies.
Its deputy director general (Medical) Datuk Dr Mohd Azman Yacob said the initiative under the National Plasma Fractionation Programme aims to ensure the country's plasma supply is sufficient, of high quality and continuous, in addition to boosting Malaysia's capacity to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of plasma-based medicinal products.
He said that the construction of the factory would allow the country to process its own plasma to produce essential medicines, including intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), albumin, and blood clotting factors used in various medical treatments.
"This effort also has significant importance from the perspective of national security. The global experience during the Covid-19 pandemic and disruptions in the global supply chain have proven that complete reliance on external sources can jeopardise local patients' access to critical medications.
"By developing its own plasma fractionation capacity, Malaysia will be better prepared to face any potential crisis, trade restrictions or international supply disruptions," he stated in a statement in conjunction with the World Blood Donor Day celebration at the National Blood Centre on Saturday.
However, Mohd Azman said the success of this programme also depends on the sustainability of the raw material supply, which is the plasma itself.
He said that plasma can be obtained from two main sources, namely isolation from whole blood (recovered plasma) and collection through the apheresis donation procedure, where only the plasma component is taken while other blood cells are returned to the donor's body.
"Every bag of blood and every plasma donation not only has the potential to save lives today but also contributes to the production of essential medicines that will benefit thousands of patients in the future," he said while urging Malaysians to come forward and donate blood to support the implementation of the programme.
Commenting further, Mohd Azman said Malaysia currently needs around 2,200 to 2,400 blood units daily to meet the treatment needs of approximately 1,000 patients.
He said the increased demand was also driven by the rapid development of healthcare services such as organ transplants and high-tech surgeries.
He said that the current national blood donation rate of 23 donations per 1,000 residents needs to be increased to 30 donations per 1,000 residents by 2030 to ensure a sufficient blood supply.
In an effort to strengthen blood supply management, he said the implementation of the Blood Bank Information System (BBIS) also enhances traceability, hemovigilance, and the efficiency of blood transfusion management.
"BBIS Version 2 (BBISv2) is being expanded to 117 MOH hospitals by 2029, while BBIS Version 3 is being planned with the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to strengthen data analytics and service delivery," he also said.
He added that strategic cooperation between the MOH and non-governmental organisations, the private sector, government agencies, and various organisations is important to strengthen awareness and encourage more people to come forward to donate blood and plasma.
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