Blood and Blood Products

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The Australian blood sector is funded by Commonwealth, State and Territory governments. In 2001, a Review of the Australian Blood Banking and Plasma Product Sector recommended an overhaul of arrangements in the blood sector, including the establishment of a National Blood Authority.

The National Blood Authority (NBA) came into effect from 1 July 2003, and is a key part of reforms to the blood sector, which have been agreed to by all States and Territories. The NBA is a statutory body, funded by the Commonwealth and States/Territories. Its role is to ensure that Australia's blood supply is safe, secure, adequate and affordable. The NBA pays contracted national prices for blood and blood products from the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) and other local and overseas suppliers.

To complement the establishment of the NBA, the NSW Department of Health implemented new arrangements (PowerPoint Presentation), including a revised committee structure to oversee the governance of blood and blood products and coordinate activities in NSW.

Some existing services are excluded from the new arrangements for blood and blood products; these include: ARCBS-specific services such as Transplantation Services including tissue typing, organ donation and other specified services; high cost patients (i.e. costs over $125,000 per annum); and some other products currently funded by health services.