Blood banks: Gov’t supply not enough

A group of commercial blood bank operators said yesterday that the government is not yet capable of supplying the country’s blood demands, nine years after Republic Act 7719 or the "National Blood Service Act" was enacted.

Dr. Jardini Co, president of the Philippine Association of Blood Banks, noted the government still cannot stand on its own because of its failure to put up enough blood service facilities as mandated under the law.

"There are 7,100 islands in the Philippines but the Department of Health (DOH) reportedly managed to put up only 45 of such facilities. That’s simple arithmetic. It’s not enough," he added.

The law was intended to provide for an adequate supply of safe blood in the country through voluntary blood donation. It was enacted in 1994 amid the emergence of the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) an incurable disease that could be transmitted through blood transfusion.

Passed in 1994, the law also provides for the closure of commercial blood banks which will be replaced by blood service facilities that will be based or networked in government and private hospitals.

So far, however, the DOH had put up only 45 blood service facilities which have at least 10 satellite outlets. These are on top of the blood outlets of the Philippine National Red Cross.

Bloodbank owners have questioned the planned closure up to the Supreme Court which issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) in 1998.

It was said that the DOH-issued licenses of all private blood banks to operate have long expired but they continue to operate until now by virtue of the TRO.

In a telephone interview, Co tossed back to the government the supposed commercialization of blood supply.

Co alleged that while 500cc of blood is priced at P900 to P1,000 in private blood banks, the hemoglobin coming from the government’s blood service facilities is being sold for P2,000 per 500cc.

"What the hospitals are doing is that they make it appear that the blood is free, provided you bring someone who can donate and replace the blood. The amount, however, is for the blood bags and re-agents used. So who’s commercializing blood now?," he asked.

Co also said that despite the expiration of their license to operate, they are not operating illegally.

"How can that be illegal if we are not required to apply or renew our licenses because of the TRO? That’s precisely what’s status quo means," he added.

FVR leads Red Cross awardees

Former President Fidel Ramos called on Filipinos to donate blood, saying it is one thing that one can do "without the approval of Congress, Supreme Court, Malacañang or electorate."

"It is one thing to contribute or allocate funds to the Red Cross but it is a different thing to share one’s own blood to save lives," he noted.

Ramos led 69 blood donors who were given recognition by the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) at the Clamshell in Intramuros, Manila yesterday in line with the "Blood Donor’s Month."

The former Chief Executive was given the "Bronze Medal Award" for donating 12,610cc of blood. This is higher than the 12,500cc criteria for such award.

"I would like to appeal to every healthy person in this room to continue to donate blood. Everyday, a minimum of 2,000 units need to be collected nationwide to meet the normal demand. With the ongoing terrorist threats and the seasonal peaks of diseases such as dengue, the demand increases. Also, accidents continue to happen and during such times, the availability of blood may be the key to someone’s survival," he added.

Ramos also urged every Filipino to practice healthy lifestyles so they could share their blood.

"Being able to give blood regularly is one of the greatest advantages of being healthy," he said.