Specialists urged on research, benchmarks for blood services regulation
Agnes Kyotalengerire
Journalist @New Vision
______________________ (L-R) Aaron Tobian Director Transfusion Medicine division at Johns Hopkins interacting with Jane Ruth Minister for Health and Prof Isaac Kajja, a blood transfusion specialist during 11th International Congress of African Society for Blood Transfusion
The health ministry has advised blood specialists to focus on research and benchmarks to be used to come up with laws and regulations necessary to streamline blood transfusion services in the country.
Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng says the attempt to include blood transfusion services in the Tissue Transfusion Bill was halted due to the uniqueness of the blood management process that requires an independent law.
“A few years ago, the director of Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) made the request. An attempt was made to include blood transfusion services under the Tissue Transplant Bill but it could not fit in there given that there are so many other issues surrounding blood and blood products. That is why I'm asking this question because I'm also trying to benchmark with other countries,” Aceng said.
UBTS former president Dr Isaac Kajja said there must be a person who liaises with the transfusion services in the hospital but that person is not yet within our public service establishment.
Consultant hematologist and oncologist at the Uganda Cancer Institute Dr Henry Ddungu said Uganda has laws that govern the use of blood and it is recognised as an essential in the minimal healthcare package.
“There are regulations for effective use of blood and Uganda blood transfusion service is spearheading all these. However, it is necessary to implement the laws and specifically to educate people more about understanding of the safe and optimal use of blood,” Ddugu said.
He noted that the kind of training even the practicing blood specialists in the country get is not to the required level to ensure it is effectively used. Uganda blood transfusion bank collects a lot of blood but some of it is wasted by giving to patients who do not need it and those who require it fail to access it.
Ddungu said there is a need to come up with regulations and guidelines that include safe and effective ways of monitoring blood right from the time it leaves the donor's veins until the process of transfusion to ensure it follows the right direction. In addition, to educating the public and health workers on safe ways of using minimal blood.
Ravi Reddy, who is the chief executive officer of the South Africa blood transfusion services, said blood transfusion should be regulated by the health ministry that can in turn delegate. Reddy said that blood donation should be regulated as biology because from every donor you get a unit of blood that is different as opposed to making drugs from pharmaceutical ingredients.
“Blood should be regulated differently, but there should be a law or clear regulations on how blood is collected from testing and processing. As such, an inspector from the health ministry or any crediting body for example the African Society can inspect to ensure they are doing the right thing. This, according to Reddy will help to ensure there is compliance from the blood service. Not to mention the patients will be happy because they will know there is a law so they can donate blood freely.
The remarks were made during the opening of the four-day International Africa Society for Blood Transfusion Congress 2024 at Munyonyo conventional centre on Monday, March 4, 2024. It is the first time Uganda is hosting the congress which has attracted over 500 blood specialists.
Every year the national blood transfusion blood services collect up to a tune of 330,000 units which is below the required 450,000 units as per the World Health Organization recommendation of the one percent (1%) population needs.
The worrying bit though, is the country highly depends on students for blood donation, hence raising the issue of sustainability.
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