The first NHS patients in a generation have started to receive life-saving plasma from the blood of UK donors, through a partnership between NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) and NHS England.
Since a longstanding ban on UK plasma was lifted in 2021, the UK has been building its own supply of plasma medicines amid a global shortage. This will reduce reliance on imports, saving the NHS between £5 million and £10 million per year and strengthening the UK as a powerhouse for life sciences under the government’s Plan for Change.
Around 17,000 NHS patients with immune deficiencies and rare diseases rely on vital human-donated plasma to save or improve their lives. It is also used in emergency medicine for childbirth and trauma care.
Health Minister, Baroness Gillian Merron, said: "This is a significant milestone for the NHS as we take a step towards UK self-sufficiency in these vital medicines. As part of our Plan for Change, we are improving access to life-saving treatments for thousands of NHS patients and strengthening healthcare security. By sourcing our own medicine, we are building a more resilient and domestic medical supply chain and boosting economic growth."
Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director of NHS England, said: "This landmark moment ensures patients relying on crucial plasma-derived medicines will always have access to the treatment they need. Thanks to NHS efforts, new plasma-derived products, owned from start to finish by the UK, will reduce our reliance on imported stock and boost the fortitude of hospital supplies.
"Thousands of people with serious and potentially life-threatening conditions, including immunodeficiencies and neurological conditions rely on these products, and strengthening the supply chain of plasma-derived treatments through UK donations will help NHS clinicians ensure these vital medicines are available for all who need them."
The initiative will also build UK capacity in the global plasma medicines industry, which was valued at over $30 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $45 billion by 2027. It will help establish the NHS as an engine of economic growth to drive investment in public services and raise living standards for everyone.
NHSBT has collected 250,000 litres of plasma from donors in England since 2021. From this, 2 vital medicines are being produced: immunoglobulins, which treat autoimmune conditions, and albumin, which is essential for surgery and treating liver conditions.
The NHS plans to reach 25% self-sufficiency in immunoglobulin by the end of 2025, rising to 30 to 35% in 2031, and 80% self-sufficiency in albumin by next year.
Global medical supply issues worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. In July 2024, a national patient safety alert was issued due to critically low blood stocks, demonstrating the importance of building self-sufficiency in the UK.
Dr Jo Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS Blood and Transplant, said: "Thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors, NHS patients are now receiving life-saving medicines made from UK plasma for the first time in a generation.
"Plasma makes up 55% of our blood and contains antibodies which strengthen or stabilise the immune system. It is used to save lives during childbirth and trauma and is used to treat thousands of patients with life-limiting illnesses such as immune deficiencies.
"These lifesaving medicines can only be made from our blood. We need more donors to help save more lives. Please go to Give Blood to become a donor."
Clare Worden, General Manager, Octapharma UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud of all the accomplishments achieved through this unique collaboration with the NHS and blood collection services since we were appointed sole manufacturer. Bringing this programme to fruition is testament to our collective dedication, expertise and teamwork.
“This landmark joint initiative is building a more resilient supply chain for patients nationwide, reducing the country’s reliance on medicines made using imported plasma.”
Previously, the NHS relied solely on imported plasma medicines due to a long-standing ban on using UK plasma. The ban was introduced in 1998 as a precautionary measure against Variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (vCJD), linked to mad cow disease.
In 2021, following rigorous scientific reviews, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed that plasma from UK donors is safe, supported by robust safety measures.
