Factsheets

Funding and Expenditure on Blood and Blood Products in Australia

How is the blood sector funded?

Australia’s blood sector is government funded with cost-shared arrangements between the Australian, State and Territory governments. In general, State and Territory governments contribute 37 per cent and the Australian Government 63 per cent. They will provide the National Blood Authority (NBA) with over $600 million in 2006/2007 to manage the blood supply on behalf of all Australians.

How are these funds spent?

The funds provided to the NBA are used to purchase and manage blood, blood products and services from many suppliers. In 2004-05, $267.78 million was provided to the Australian Red Cross Blood Service, $148.96 million was used for CSL Limited services and products, $87.9 million for other products purchased from pharmaceutical companies and, $8.044 million on the operational costs of the NBA.

Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS)

The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) collects, manufactures and distributes fresh blood products from voluntary donations. It also distributes plasma products to hospitals and other end users in Australia. The NBA funds ARCBS activities and in the financial year 2004-2005, provided the ARCBS with $267.78 million to provide these services.

CSL Limited

Plasma derived products are produced in Australia by CSL Limited (CSL). Materials for blood diagnostic purposes and some imported products are also sourced through CSL. In the financial year 2004-05, $148.96 million was spent on products purchased through CSL. These products are outlined in the table below.

Other pharmaceutical companies

In 2004-05, there were four other pharmaceutical companies responsible for supplying a range of imported plasma-derived and recombinant (genetically engineered) products. These suppliers were Baxter Healthcare Pty Ltd, Wyeth Australia Pty Ltd, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd and Octapharma (Australia) Pty Ltd. The total expenditure on products and services purchased from these pharmaceutical companies was $87.9 million.

National Blood Supply Contingency Plan (NBSCP)
Australia's Response to Blood Shortages

National Blood Sector Conference 08
Conference Proceedings

Australian Bleeding Disorders Registry (ABDR)

Annual Report for 2007-08

Procurement

- Provision of Internal Audit Services