[A-List] UK state: health care acquisition

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

NHS pays £50m for US blood plasma firm
By Tom Whitehead, PA News
The Independent, 17 December 2002

The Department of Health has bought an American blood supplier to ensure
long term delivery to the NHS, it will confirm today.

In the first move of its kind, the Government has paid around £50 million to
buy Life Resources Incorporated, which will supply around 45 per cent of
blood plasma needs for the NHS.

The company is the largest remaining independent US plasma collector and a
spokeswoman for the department said the move was for the benefit of NHS
patients.

The spokeswoman said the decision to buy the company was taken as it was
"the most cost-effective means to make sure we have long term supplies of
non-UK blood plasma".

The NHS has been using US-based supplies since 1998 as part of efforts to
reduce the risk of the spread of variant CJD.

The US is seen as the only country able to supply the quantity of blood
plasma needed in the NHS without the risk of vCJD.

The spokeswoman said: "It was felt in order to make sure there was enough
plasma, the best thing to do was to actually buy the company and make sure
the supply continues.

"The decision is for the benefit of NHS patients."