Mumbai has been facing acute shortage of this drug for last one year forcing the patients' relatives to run pillar to post and also pay extra money.
Taking a serious cognisance of dna report 'Mumbai faces albumin shortage'(published on August 11) state's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will meet the producer of the product on Friday. In this meeting FDA wants to know the exact reason of the shortage and try to take measures overcome it.
Mumbai has been facing acute shortage of this drug for last one year forcing the patients' relatives to run pillar to post and also pay extra money.
Dr Harshadeep Kamble, FDA commissioner, said, "We have received several complaints about the albumin shortage. Patients' relatives are struggling to procure it. We spoke to officials from Reliance Life Sciences, one of the companies that produces albumin in the state. Now we have planned a meeting with them on Friday. A company official has informed us that they unable to get sufficient raw material to make albumin, so, they are not able to meet the demand for it. There is a huge gap between demand and supply."
Albumin, a component of human blood, is produced by the liver. Its function is to maintain levels of calcium in the body and to transport nutrients or drugs through the bloodstream. The body can suffer a shortage of albumin if a patient is affected by liver disease, kidney failure, burns or malnourishment. Also, after major surgeries such as kidney or liver transplant, the body does not produce adequate albumin.
"In this meeting we will also try to understand their (producer's) problem and try to resolve it. If they need any kind of permission from the state government or central government to increases the production of this product we will definitely try to help them. There is an urgent need of this injection," said Dr Kamble.
On the condition of anonymity, a senior doctor said most doctors, who prescribe albumin are aware that it is not so easily available in market. "We have been facing a shortage of albumin for over a year. No action has been taken by the government so far. In June also, the city had faced an albumin shortage. This albumin shortage has hit the treatment of patients with kidney diseases, acute liver failure and burns," said the doctor.
Transfusion of human albumin is needed for proper healing or to reduce water retention and swelling caused in the body due to infection or disease. Only a few companies, three to four, say chemists, manufacture this medicine.
"Luckily this week our patient got an albumin by paying additional money. This is a great step by FDA to look in to the shortage and resolve it at the earliest," said Dr Shrirang Bicchu, Nephrologist, Bombay Hospital.
Helps maintaining levels of calcium
Albumin, a component of human blood, is produced by the liver. Its function is to maintain levels of calcium in the body and to transport nutrients or drugs through the bloodstream. The body can suffer a shortage of albumin if a patient is affected by liver disease, kidney failure, burns or malnourishment. Also, after major surgeries such as kidney or liver transplant, the body does not produce adequate albumin.
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 "FDA to discuss albumin shortage with producers today")
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