MELAKA: Every bag of blood donated in the historic city will now help produce critical medicines for patients across the country under the National Fractionation Programme.
State health, human resources and unity committee chairman Datuk Ngwe Hee Sem said the Transfusion Medicine Department of Hospital Melaka is the only institution, aside from the National Blood Centre, entrusted to supply plasma for the programme.
The department achieved the distinction after receiving Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) compliance certification from CSL Behring, Australia, and GC Biopharma, South Korea, enabling it to supply plasma for processing into essential plasma-derived medicinal products.
"With the continued support of blood donors and the encouraging rate of blood donations among the locals, the department is able to supply approximately 3,500 litres of plasma annually for the National Fractionation Programme.
"The plasma is processed into vital medical products such as immunoglobulin, albumin and blood clotting factors, which are used in the treatment of patients throughout the nation," Ngwe said in an interview on Wednesday (July 29).
He added that Hospital Melaka collects between 29,000 and 30,000 units of blood annually through 350 to 400 mobile blood donation drives, as well as donations received at the hospital's blood donation centre.
According to Ngwe, the achievement reflects Melaka's growing excellence in transfusion medicine while underscoring the invaluable contribution of the state's blood donors to the national healthcare system.
"Every unit of blood donated does more than help patients in the state, as it also contributes to the production of plasma-derived medicines that have become an essential component in treating patients across the country.
"This achievement is a source of pride for Melaka and demonstrates that every blood donor in the state is playing a meaningful role in strengthening the nation's healthcare system," he added.
