2.3 The blood supply chain
Australia's blood sector is government funded, with the Australian Government contributing 63 percent of funds and state and territory governments contributing 37 percent. The National Blood Authority is the national contract manager for supplies of blood and blood-related products under these arrangements. In 2006–07, governments provided the National Blood Authority with $638.3 million to procure and manage the blood supply—see Table 3. Since the commencement of the new arrangements in July 2003, governments have spent $2.2 billion on blood and blood-related products.
The National Blood Authority manages the national planning and purchasing of blood and blood-related products in close cooperation with a number of entities. The following pages outline the roles and responsibilities of the key stakeholders in the Australian blood sector. The Australian blood supply chain is set out in Figure 1.
Australian, state and territory governments
As signatories to the National Blood Agreement, the Australian, state and territory governments are responsible for:
- establishing the policy framework and specific policies relating to the national blood supply
- overseeing the National Blood Authority's management of the blood supply arrangements
- fostering the development and implementation of best practice systems to promote efficient use and minimal wastage
- providing information on demand for blood and blood-related products
- managing local issues such as those involving clinical practice.
Therapeutic Goods Administration
The regulator for blood and blood-related products in Australia is the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The Therapeutic Goods Administration is responsible for:
- regulating the sector in terms of the efficacy, safety and quality of blood and blood-related products under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989
- auditing of good manufacturing practice
- product recalls
- modifications to safety standards
- issuing directives such as donor deferral.
Suppliers of blood and blood-related products
The National Blood Authority contracts with a number of suppliers of blood and blood-related products for specific volumes, including:
- the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, for the collection of red cells, platelets and plasma from donors; production, testing and distribution of fresh and some manufactured products; and the provision of donated plasma to CSL Limited
- CSL Limited, for fractionating plasma supplied by the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, and supplying a range of products
- other pharmaceutical companies, which are responsible for the supply and some distribution of a range of imported blood products not produced in Australia, or where domestic production capacity cannot meet demand.
Contracts with suppliers for the provision of blood and blood-related products under standing offer arrangements include:
- CSL Limited, DiaMed Australia Pty Ltd, Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics and Australian Laboratory Services Pty Ltd for the provision of diagnostic reagents
- CSL Limited and Octapharma Australia Pty Ltd for the provision of overseas-sourced IVIg
- Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd, Wyeth Australia Pty Ltd and Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd for the provision of a range of defined blood products.