Canadian Blood Services calls for provincial funding for plasma clinics

Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is asking the provincesfor more funding to help boost plasma donations necessary for a specific, "critical" drug.

On Tuesday, the organization which handles the blood supply for every province except Quebec announced plans for 40 new plasma clinicsnationwide.

To make that happen, CBS said it needs $100 million from the provinces over a six-year period.

Plasma-derived drug supply needs boost

In a statement, the organization said it aims to make more of the plasma-derived drug, immune globulin, which is used totreat immune, neurological, and blood diseases.

Currently, CBS only collects enoughplasma to make about 17 per cent of the immune globulinCanadians use, according to CEO Dr. Graham Sher.

The restis largely purchased from U.S. companies that use paid donors.

Sher said thegoal of CBS is be more self-sufficient, collecting enoughplasma to create 50 per cent of Canada's immune globulinsupply by 2024.

About 145,000 more donors will need to roll up their sleeves for that to be a possibility, the doctor said.

Plasma is the yellow liquid that carries blood cells. On its own, the fluid can be used for blood transfusions, or to treat conditions like hemophiliaand burns.

Paid donation clinics an issue

In February, a pay-for-plasma clinicopenedin Saskatoon, Sask. Donorswalk away with a $25 gift card every time they visit.

Canadian Plasma Resources, which runsthat centre, said B.C.wasat the top of the listfor another location.

Such clinics are banned in Ontario and Quebec.

Sher said CBS is continuing to monitorhow the practiceaffects voluntary donations.

"It has had an early, but evident impact on our operation in [Saskatoon] ... we're paying very careful attention to it," he said.

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Sher said Canadians leaning towards the cash should think ofwhere their donations will end up.

"Private-for-profit plasma industry isn't obligated to keep the Canadian plasma in the country they can sell it wherever," the CEO said.

CBS is mandated to keep its donations in Canada, Sher said.

With files from The Early Edition