According to Dr. Amin Hussain Al Amiri, Director of Medical Laboratories and Blood Transfusion Department at the Ministry of Health, the Ministry has re-constituted the National Committee for Blood Transfusions, in order to improve blood transfusion services in the country, according to Khaleej Times.
A system of transfusion and screening policies has been proposed for infectious diseases caused by blood transfusions. Voluntary blood donations by the country’s people will be promoted as well, as part of a nation-wide plan to spread public awareness on blood donations. The Committee has made additional suggestions such as conducting national surveys on the donated blood to guarantee its safety.
Dr. Amin added that the National Committee, originally set up in 1993, has now been re-constituted to cover all private hospitals, health service Departments, Emirate of Dubai Armed Forces medical services and the UAE Red Crescent Society.
The Committee, according to Dr. Amin, has also assigned a sub-committee for organizing student visits to blood transfusion centers to familiarize them with the techniques involved in blood transfusion. It has also introduced the NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing) for HCV (Hepatitis C Virus).
A law to monitor blood transfusions has been enacted by the UAE and the Ministry of Health plans to hold additional meetings to discuss plans to upgrade blood transfusion services throughout the UAE.
