Albumin is needed by patients with liver disease, kidney failure, burn or malnourishment
On the backdrop of shortage of Albumin — the life-saving drug — in the city, the State Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has decided to extend a help hand to the company that produces maximum Albumin in the state.
FDA has decided to write a letter to all blood banks across the state instructing them to provide plasma, the raw material needed to make Albumin, to this company to help production of this drug.
dna had published several reports on the shortage of Albumin in Mumbai and highlighted how relatives of patients have been running from pillar to post to get this drug. Moreover, in order to get the drug at the earliest possible time, they also shell out almost double the amount of its actual price.
Taking serious cognisance of this situation, the State Food and Drug Administration on Friday had a meeting with officials from Reliance Life Sciences, the company that produces Albumin.
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 a kidney and liver transplant, the body does not produce adequate albumin.
Talking to dna, Harshadeep Kamble, commissioner, State Food and Drug Administration, said: “We had a detailed discussion with the company officials and tried to understand their problem why they can't increase their production capacity. In this meeting, we came to know that the demand for the drug is huge but its supply is less because the company needs raw material to produce the drug. They do not get plasma as per their need and thus the limited production. Now, they have got the permission from the central government to import plasma from abroad. This move will help to increase the production.”
He added: “Plasma is created in the blood bank. We will write a letter to the banks to cooperate with this company and provide as much plasma as possible. However, we have not received any complaint stating that they overcharge for this drug.”
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, manufacture this medicine.
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