Premier Keith Milligan, Robert Morrissey, Minister for Economic Development and Tourism, and Claude Houde, Red Cross National Director of Blood Services, today announced at a news conference that the Canadian Red Cross will establish a dedicated plasma collection centre in Charlottetown, PEI.
The Canadian Red Cross plans to establish up to seven new plasma collection centres across Canada. The first centre was established in Thunder Bay in May of 1996 and officially opened on October 23, 1996. The Charlottetown Plasma Collection Centre will be the second facility in a plan to make Canada self-sufficient in plasma which is essential in the manufacture of life-saving, plasma-based products.
A strong volunteer blood donor base is essential to the success of the Plasma Collection Centre. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the volunteer blood donors as safer than those paid. The Plasma Collection Centre in Charlottetown will recruit 4,000 volunteers who will be asked to make regular plasma donations at least 15 times a year. The Centre will create 30 new professional jobs with an estimated $1.1 million payroll. That works out to an average salary of approximately $37,000 per job, including benefits.
Premier Milligan stated, "This project not only represents PEI’s ability to compete with other areas in securing new highly skilled jobs, but it also represents an opportunity to expand and diversify our contacts and economic base in the ever growing knowledge-based and information technology sectors."
While Canada is self-sufficient in the collection of fresh components, it has had to import 50% - 60% of fractionated products. "The Red Cross has embarked upon a program to make Canada self-sufficient in the collection of plasma. The supply of fractionated products from Canadian plasma will lessen considerably the reliance of Canadians on foreign plasma products. Moreover, it will result in a safer, more stable supply at a lower cost," stated Claude Houde, Red Cross National Director of Blood Services.
The Charlottetown Plasma Collection Centre will be operational by June of 1997. The site selection process will begin immediately. A centre manager and donor recruiter will be hired in the very near future. Equipment supply, recruiting and training for the 30 new employees will start early in the new year. When fully operational, the Charlottetown Centre will operate with a $4.1 million budget and with the other centres across the country will supply the Canadian Red Cross’ new fractionation plant that is being built in Bedford, Nova Scotia. The Centre will be able to ship plasma to the US fractionator until the Canadian plant is ready.
Plasma can be separated, processed, and used to treat a wide range of health problems. It can also be fractionated into a variety of blood products. For example, albumin is used as a blood volume expander to treat burn victims and during surgery. Immunoglobin is used to treat immune deficiency diseases and to fight infectious diseases (measles, chicken pox, hepatitis). Plasma products are also used to treat a wide variety of genetically inherited deficiencies such as inherited emphysema.
"Government has pursued an aggressive economic development strategy that focuses on key sectors in which we can compete and focuses on developers who can provide long-term sustainable jobs," said Robert Morrissey, Minister responsible for Enterprise PEI, who carried out the prospecting on the part of the Province. "The Red Cross is a blue chip operation and we are confident that this project, combined with a sound training initiative, will result in long-term, quality, paying jobs for Islanders."
Premier Milligan added, "Prince Edward Island has had a strong economic development record over the past three years. The reason for this growth can be attributed to government partnering with private sector to expand existing or establish new businesses in emerging sectors. The Plasma Collection Centre is another example of government’s approach to strengthening the Island economy."
In selecting the Charlottetown site over other areas in Canada, Ms. Cathy MacNutt, Red Cross Deputy National Director of Blood Services, who was instrumental in the negotiations with the province, noted that a number of factors were taken into account. "We looked at population profiles, availability of staff and training programs, suitable premises, and transportation linkages."