The Sri Lankan Cabinet has approved a tie-up with the Reliance Life Sciences, a firm belonging to the Reliance Industries, to sell plasma so as to get plasma proteins from the Indian firm.

 

In Sri Lanka, the National Blood Transfusion Services (NBTS) collects about 100,000 litres of plasma annually through its collection centres.

 

Of this, 60,000 units are consumed for clinical use after components of blood are separated. The surplus quantity of 40,000 litres is now going waste.

 

While the excess quantity can be sold to plasma fractionators for the production of plasma proteins, Sri Lanka is meeting the requirements of plasma proteins through imports, according to an official document.

 

Keeping this in mind, the Cabinet, on Wednesday, approved a proposal, mooted by Health Minister Rajitha Senaratne to allow the sale of plasma to the Reliance Life Sciences at a mutually agreed price.

 

The Minister said initially, on getting plasma from the NBTS, the firm would produce plasma proteins and supply them to Sri Lanka.

(The Hindu)