Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with NHS England’s Commercial Medicines Unit on appropriately recognising the strategic importance of plasma-derived medicinal products.

The Department is routinely liaising with NHS England on this strategically important work. NHS England holds the budget for the provision of plasma-derived medicines and manage the supply framework. The introduction of medicines sourced in the United Kingdom is already part of the overall strategic direction and is aligned with the Commercial Medicines Unit.

NHS England has taken lead responsibility for the procurement of a fractionator to manufacture UK plasma into medicines. There are now contracts in place with the manufacturer and supplier that will provide England with 25% self-sufficiency in plasma-derived medicines, rising to 30% in the following years.