BLOOD BANK

• Voluntary blood donation began after World War II
• Before World War II, blood was collected and directly administered to patients
• With the advent of anticoagulants, blood could be preserved and stored in Blood Banks
• PNRC launched the National Blood Program on July 17, 1948, with President E. Quirino as the first donor
• Objective of the National Blood Program: "To maintain a constant and ready supply of whole blood or plasma for emergency cases"
• Commercial blood banks were established when the demand for blood for transfusion grew
• To ensure the safety of the blood supply from hospital and commercial blood banks, the government passed the Blood Bank law in 1956
• Blood Galloners Club (BGC)
• Formed in July 1957 by 16 blood donors with Fr. John Bush, an Australian priest, as the first President (1957-1962)
• Current President: P.Spt. Joel Torregoza (1997-Present)
• Joint Committee on Blood Banking
• Formed in late 1980 to promote Voluntary Blood Donation composed of governmental agencies and health professional associations
• Philippine Blood Coordinating Council (PBCC) was launched on September 15, 1983, with Health Minister Jesus Azurin
• Purpose of PBCC
• Coordinating body for PNRC, Government agencies, health professional associations, and health-related organizations in the campaign for voluntary blood donation and the appropriate use of blood components
• Registered with SEC in February 1984
• First Annual Council Meeting held on August 15, 1984
• PBCC joined the celebration of Blood Donors Week in July 1985
• Transfusion Newsletter first issue published in 1985
• PCSO donated P20,000 to PBCC in 1985
• National Blood Services Program
• DOH was directly involved in the Blood Program on August 18, 1987
• Key Players: DOH, PNRC, and PBCC
• Objective: "To provide an adequate supply of safe blood for transfusion, principally via voluntary blood donation" and "To encourage the efficient utilization of blood resources"
• National Blood Services Act Rep. Act No. 7719
• Enacted into law in May 1994
• Initiated by the Committee on NBSP and filed in 1989 by Sen. R. Saguisag
• Promotes Voluntary Blood Donation and mandates a National Voluntary Blood Services Program
• Phases out commercial blood banks in two to four years
• Provides Duty-free importation of blood bank equipment, reagents, blood bags, and supplies
• Regulates Blood Service Facilities
• Standards for Blood Service Facilities
• Bureau of Research and Laboratories (BRL), DOH has promulgated standards for Blood Banks/Centers (BB/BC), Blood Collection Units (BCU), and Blood Stations (BS)
• National Policy Guidelines were formulated to govern the networking of the Regional and local Blood Services Networks and local Blood Councils
• Tripartite Summit
• Memorandum of Agreement between Department of Health-NVBSP, the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), and the Philippine Blood Coordinating Council (PBCC) for collaboration and designation of roles in the implementation of the NVBSP
• Subcommittee on Professional Education (NVBSP)
• Formed to conduct professional educational activities composed of health professional societies and government agencies
• Quality is defined as:

  • Product does its intended job
  • Meets the customer's requirements
  • Fit for its purpose
  • Conforms to requirements
• Quality Assurance is:

  • A management tool
  • Covers everything that can affect the quality of services or products
  • Should be used to build quality into products
  • Aims to ensure products are safe, effective, and fit for their purpose
  • Includes systems such as GMP, QC, and QA