Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Committee for Blood Transfusion announced a new programme that monitors blood transfer procedures in the country. The Centralised Hemovigilance Program improves the quality of the blood transfusion chain, primarily focusing on safety.

Dr Aisha Ibrahim Al Malki, Assistant Executive Director of Medical Services and Chair of the Blood Transfusion Committee and Centralised Haemovigilance Program said that this is a first of its kind in Qatar and the Arab region. She said that the programme primarily aims to improve the blood transfusion system by providing an extra level of safety for donors and recipients and improve the quality of the blood transfusion chain that focuses on safety.

A blood transfusion chain is a system for storing and transporting blood and blood products from the point of collection from a blood donor to the point of transfusion to a patient. The new programme improves the overall quality of the collection, storage, testing and distribution of blood and its components, reporting any complications or errors in blood transfer.

Dr Al Malki said the programme will be initially implemented at HMC and consequently introduced across all healthcare facilities in Qatar that collect, use or store blood and blood components.

Earlier this month, 20 members of HMC’s Quality, Nursing, and Emergency Departments, along with staff from the Blood Donor Unit and Blood Transfer Centre attended an education session about the new programme.

Visit the HMC website for more information about the new programme.