Urgent Call for National Plasma Collection Strategy in Sweden
Sweden's health agencies call for a national strategy to enhance plasma collection for drug manufacturing.
Key Points
- • Sweden lacks a national strategy for plasma collection for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- • Socialstyrelsen and Läkemedelsverket recommend a national actor for plasma availability.
- • The aim is to increase Sweden's self-sufficiency in plasma for drug production.
- • A formal strategy should include measures for expanded plasma collection and monitoring systems.
A report by Socialstyrelsen and Läkemedelsverket has underscored the critical need for Sweden to implement a comprehensive national strategy designed to enhance the collection of plasma for pharmaceutical manufacturing. Currently, the absence of a centralized national body responsible for securing plasma availability poses significant challenges for self-sufficiency in vital therapeutic products.
The report suggests that a dedicated national actor should be appointed to coordinate plasma collection efforts and improve Sweden's preparedness for a sustainable supply of this essential resource. My Moberg from Läkemedelsverket highlighted the strategy's importance, noting that it should outline the goals and responsibilities for managing plasma collection effectively.
Plasma is crucial for producing lifesaving medications such as immunoglobulins, albumin, and clotting factors that treat a variety of health conditions. Socialstyrelsen and Läkemedelsverket propose that the strategy include innovative collection methods, robust monitoring systems, and new contractual models to ensure a constant supply. This initiative, tasked to these agencies by the government in December 2023, aims to enhance Sweden’s independence in sourcing plasma for drug production and ensure preparedness against future medical emergencies.