News | Taiwan Blood Services Foundation ESG

       On June 12, 2025, the Taiwan Blood Foundation held a press conference titled “National Blood for National Use: Greater Peace of Mind, Better Health for All”, focusing on Taiwan’s self-sufficiency in blood-derived products and calling for continued efforts to strengthen the domestic blood plasma supply chain. Government officials, medical professionals, and industry experts—including Chien-Liang Lin, Director of the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration’s Division of Drugs; Dr. Chien-Hung Yeh, President of the Taiwan Society of Neuroimmunology; myasthenia gravis patient Ms. Hsiu-Mei Hsu; and Mr. Robert Fergusso, Representative of the Australian Office—attended the event to demonstrate Taiwan’s active role in ensuring the safety, availability, and clinical application of blood resources.


Front row from left: Mr. Robert Fergusso (Australian Office Representative), Ms. Hsiu-Mei Hsu (MG patient), Dr. Chien-Hung Yeh (President of Taiwan Society of Neuroimmunology), Director Chien-Liang Lin (TFDA), Chairman Sheng-Mao Hou (Taiwan Blood Foundation), CEO Tsung-Hsi Wang (TBF), Vice Chairman Wei Sheng-Tang (Taiwan Blood Donation Movement Association), Consultant Physician Cheng-Sheng Hung (TBF), Dr. Chi-Ling Lin (Taichung Blood Center).
 
       According to Taiwan’s health policy, “national blood” includes blood donated voluntarily and without compensation by citizens, as well as blood-derived products made from such donations. Thanks to public efforts, Taiwan has already achieved full self-sufficiency in blood for transfusions. However, most plasma-derived medicinal products are still imported, and more progress is needed to fully realize the “national blood for national use” goal. Globally, many countries promote the use of domestic plasma to reduce the risk of imported infectious diseases. Taiwan’s Blood Products Act also requires the Ministry of Health and Welfare to formulate a development plan to ensure product safety, quality, stable supply, and the advancement of local plasma technologies.
 
       In line with the Blood Products Act, the Taiwan Blood Foundation began collecting plasma in January 2007 and entrusted Australia’s CSL plasma separation plant to manufacture domestic plasma products. Currently, Taiwan supplies hospitals with three types of domestic blood products: 20% Human Albumin, Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG), and Factor VIII, all approved and regulated to support patient care.
 
       Chairman Hou Sheng-Mao emphasized that “National Blood for National Use” is not merely a slogan, but a real reflection of Taiwan’s medical resilience. To prevent future shortages, the foundation monitors domestic demand trends and maintains strategic reserves, such as keeping at least two lots of IVIG in stock for over six months. It is also actively working to expand manufacturing partnerships to prepare for emergency scenarios.
 
       To meet rising demand, the foundation has upgraded plasma utilization processes and technologies. The second-generation IVIG now features international-level safety and quality standards and can be stored at room temperature—a major improvement over first-generation products that required refrigeration. Chairman Hou noted, “This new IVIG formulation breaks the cold-chain restriction. It’s not only more concentrated but also suitable for room-temperature delivery, making transportation much easier.”


Chairman Hou emphasized that “National Blood for National Use” is a testament to Taiwan’s healthcare resilience.
 
       Director Chien-Liang Lin of the TFDA highlighted that when international crises disrupt global supply chains, having a domestic plasma supply ensures medical stability and reduces the risk of imported diseases. He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing the public with safe, high-quality plasma products, such as albumin and immunoglobulin, derived from voluntary local blood donations.


Director Lin emphasized the role of domestic supply in reducing cross-border risks and ensuring consistent access to safe blood products.
 
       Dr. Chien-Hung Yeh, President of the Taiwan Society of Neuroimmunology, gave a special presentation on recent advances in second-generation immunoglobulin production, highlighting improvements in virus filtration, protein purification, and product stability—all essential for consistent clinical performance.
 
       IVIG is widely used to treat blood and autoimmune disorders, including primary/secondary immunoglobulin deficiencies, and neurological immune diseases like: Myasthenia Gravis (MG) CIDP Multifocal Motor Neuropathy Guillain-Barré Syndrome Due to the complexity of these conditions, consistent product quality and reliable supply are essential. Dr. Yeh emphasized that transparency, stability, and clinical evidence are now key criteria for prescribing physicians.


Dr. Yeh explained how IVIG plays a critical role in managing neuroimmunological diseases.
 
       Ms. Hsiu-Mei Hsu, a patient with myasthenia gravis, shared her experience from 14 years ago. She suffered from drooping eyelids, fatigue when speaking, and an inability to lift her arms. After thymectomy and treatment for respiratory failure with little improvement, she turned to IVIG therapy. “I was surprised at how mild the treatment was. It felt just like an IV drip and didn’t cause the extreme fatigue that comes with plasma exchange. The results came quickly and steadily,” she said.
 
       Today, second-generation IVIG products are clinically proven to significantly improve patients’ quality of life in a wide range of autoimmune and neuroimmune conditions.


Ms. Hsu shared how IVIG transformed her quality of life after years of struggling with MG.
 
       Mr. Robert Fergusso, Representative of the Australian Office, said that Australia is one of the world’s leading nations in implementing national blood policies, and he looks forward to continuing collaboration with Taiwan. He expressed pride in Australia's role in producing Taiwan’s second-generation plasma products and hopes both nations will achieve shared goals in biotechnology development.


Mr. Fergusso expressed pride in Australia's partnership with Taiwan in developing safe domestic plasma therapies.
 
       The Taiwan Blood Foundation emphasized that “National Blood for National Use” is the core strategy for safeguarding patient safety. With the combined support of policy, the medical community, and clinical practice, Taiwan is steadily progressing toward full domestic plasma self-sufficiency and aims to further strengthen its healthcare resilience.
 
       The foundation also called on the public to actively participate in blood donation, not only as a humanitarian act, but also as a key contribution to medical sustainability and national health. Every unit of donated blood contributes to the production of domestic plasma-derived therapies and is a vital source of hope for patients with critical and rare diseases.
 
       Taiwan’s successful voluntary blood donation movement ensures 100% supply to hospitals. Through advanced international manufacturing, these donations are transformed into life-saving plasma therapies. The foundation invites everyone to support the “National Blood for National Use” initiative through regular donations, helping patients regain health and hope.