Unified blood transfusion policy soon

By PMA RASHEED

22 Sept 2010, The Gulf Today

THE UAE Ministry of Health (MoH) is currently planning to implement a unified policy for blood transfusion and donation services in the country’s healthcare sector.

The rules and regulations of the proposed policy with regard to blood transfusion will be implemented across the country, once it’s developed in tandem with guidelines put forth by international healthcare monitoring organisations, said a senior health official.

Dr Amin Al Amiri, executive director for medical practices and licences at the MoH, said that the national higher committee for blood donation is studying the feasibility of applying the updated regulations to provide hospitals and healthcare facilities with sufficient blood stock as per their requirements.

“Comprehensive conditions will be drafted in the unified policy on acceptance and refusal of the blood donation, informing the donors on the positive results and application procedures for the donation,” he added.

“Preventive medicine centres will also keep an electronic system for notification of the blood donors, who carry infectious diseases. There will also be a national criterion for standardisation of blood donation mechanism,” elaborated Dr Amiri.

“The labourers’ blood examinations are being conducted, ensuring the highest level of safety measures to avoid negative impacts due to the cultural differences and traditions among the labourers,” he said.

According to him, the national higher committee will conduct various awareness programmes and training workshops in and outside the UAE on safe blood transfusion practices, and different blood-borne diseases.

“The UAE nationals are on top of the blood donors list in the country, comprising donors from 73 nationalities for more than 17 years. The number of the donors has increased at 13 per cent this year,” pointed out Dr Amiri.

He said that the UAE will be hosting a global convention on safe injection practices from Nov.9 to 11.

“The WHO’s eleventh global network for injection safety programme will take significant steps towards preventing lethal diseases transmitted through contaminated syringes in developed countries,” he said.

“Health experts from 120 countries will participate in the WHO conference that will announce plans to provide financial support given to the region’s countries to use single syringes,” he added.

“The World Health Organiasation (WHO) has selected the blood transfusion services centre in Sharjah as the regional reference centre in the Middle East,” noted Dr Amiri.