About 320,000 liters of blood plasma are produced in Iran whereas the country needs 700,000 to 1 million liters a year, according to the chairman of Health Economy Commission of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture. “Up to $160 million are spent on the import of plasma-derivatives annually,” says Mahmoud Najafi-Arab, adding that private sector companies are capable of producing and even exporting blood plasma, if the government allows them to establish their own centers, TCCIMA news portal reported.
Blood plasma is used to produce life-saving medicines in blood disorders such as factors X and IX, and immunoglobulin and albumin deficiencies. Based on reports by the World Health Organization, Iran has been able to bring about a $10 million reduction in the overall price of plasma-derivative medicine through local production over the past five years.
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