Blood transfusion federal law to be revised

Sharjah:

A high-level meeting of senior health officials was held yesterday (Wednesday)to review the existing blood transfusion federal law, updating it with international protocols.

Also discussed were the latest procedures in blood transfusion services and techniques.

The UAE’s blood transfusion federal law was established in 2008. It conferred the country with the distinction of being the first Arab country to regulate blood transfusion services.

The legislation determines procedures and rules governing blood transfusion services in the UAE, which is now considered one of the top five countries worldwide in the field.

To further the progress made after the law was passed, members of the Higher National Committee for Blood Transfusion, comprising officials from the Ministry of Health, Abu Dhabi and Dubai health authorities, Sharjah University and Red Crescent Association, discussed updates.

Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Ameen Hussain Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary for Medical Practices and Licensing at the ministry, and chairman of the National Blood Transfusion Committee, said, “The revised law will be implemented as early as 2013.”

Dr Al Amiri explained that the scientific committee discussed measures to evaluate the existing law in light of the progress made nationally since 2008 and to align it with international protocol.

He said: “All the blood centres in the UAE are accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) [international not-for-profit association involved in the field of transfusion medicine that focuses on patient and donor care and safety].

“This requires the adoption of some of its guidelines; we will then add these to the existing law, as well as new articles.”

The committee also put forth ideas to support advancement.

The concept of patient blood management (PBM), a multidisciplinary approach to optimising care right from donor to the patient receiving blood, and rational and optimal use of blood banks, was one several ideas discussed.