§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of ministerial statements, made in 1976, indicating that Great Britain would be self-sufficient in Factor VIII, used in the treatment of haemophilia, by the middle of 1977 if self-sufficiency has been achieved; and, if it has not, if he will explain the reasons.
§ Mr. MoyleThe production target of Factor VIII set for June 1977 was attained; however, new opportunities in the treatment of haemophilia and associated disabilities have been developed which have made further clinical demands for Factor VIII.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the authorised amount referred to in ministerial statements, made in February 1975, indicating ministerial authorisation for the allocation of up to £500,000 to increase the existing production of Factor VIII, especially in the form of a new concentrate, within the National Health Service has been allocated.
§ Mr. MoyleThe whole sum was used to increase Factor VIII concentrate production within the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many units of Factor VIII concentrate are being produced by each of the fractionation centres at Elstree, Oxford and Glasgow.
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§ Mr. MoyleProduction of Factor VIII concentrate at Elstree and Oxford is currently at the rate of approximately 15 million international units per annum. The National Blood Transfusion Service, in addition, produces approximately the same amount of Factor VIII in the form of cryoprecipitate. I have no information about the production at Glasgow but I have asked my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to write to my hon. Friend about the production at Liberton, Edinburgh.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current shortfall between British National Health Service production of Factor VIII and British demand for Factor VIII concentrate; and, if there is a shortfall, what action is being taken to remedy it.
§ Mr. MoyleThe current amount of Factor VIII produced in England and Wales is approximately 30 million international units per annum: total usage of Factor VIII in England and Wales is estimated to be approximately 45 million international units per annum. Regions are being asked to provide more fresh frozen plasma to the central processing laboratories where the National Health Service concentrate is produced. In the meantime, quantities of commercial Factor VIII continue to be purchased to meet clinical demands.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional central funding has been allocated to the Blood Transfusion Service to improve blood fractionation.
§ Mr. MoyleIn 1978–79 a total of £145,000 has been allocated to the central processing laboratories in England to enable them to increase the production of blood products, mainly of Factor VIII concentrate.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the three fractionation plants, supplying concentrate drugs for the treatment of haemophilia, are working, at full capacity; and where supplies are allocated.
§ Mr. MoyleThe Blood Products Laboratory at Elstree and the Protein Fractionation Laboratory at Oxford are both working at present full capacity, but 421W this is being increased. Factor VIII concentrate is supplied by the central processing laboratories to the regional blood transfusion centres who in turn supply the haemophilia treatment centres.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of producing one unit of National Health Service Factor VIII concentrate; what is the cost of importing one unit of Factor VIII; and if he will list comparable cost figures over each of the last five years.
§ Mr. MoyleDetailed costing information in regard to the production of Factor VIII is not available in the form requested but the Department is currently working on costing figures for blood products which will include Factor VIII. It is not the practice to disclose National Health Service contract prices for purchased products.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimates have been made of balance of payments savings and reduced public expenditure if Great Britain were self-sufficient in the production of Factor VIII concentrate, by reducing dependence on expensive, commercially-produced supplies of Factor VIII.
§ Mr. MoyleIn the year ending 197778, which is the latest year for which figures are available, the amount of expenditure for the purchase of commercial Factor VIII for England and Wales was approximately £1,180,000; although the product is imported by the suppliers no information is available on the foreign exchange content of the purchase price. Because detailed costings of individual blood products produced within the National Health Service are not readily available no estimate of the potential reduction in public expenditure has been made.