TEHRAN Following the opening of a blood refinery in Tehran, Iran would no longer import plasma made medicines from abroad, said the Managing Director of the Organization for Blood Transfusion Ali Akbar Pour Fathollah on Thursday.

He added that the blood refinery with a capacity to refine 120,000 liters of plasma will come on stream within the next year.

Fathollah said that the Organization for Blood Transfusion has entered into contract with foreign supplier of the technology and setting up the blood refinery plant will be completed within the period of one year.

He also said that Iran is importing $50 million worth of plasma made medicines annually and that the blood refinery will help meet the need for import of plasma made drugs.