Decision No. 198/2001/QD-TTg On Approving the Blood Safety Program

Pursuant to …;

On the approval of the Blood Safety Program

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PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Government Organization Law dated September 30, 1992;

Based on the Law on People's Health Protection dated June 30, 1989;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 90/CP dated August 21, 1997 of the Government on the direction and policy for socializing educational, health, and cultural activities;

To provide sufficient blood and high-quality blood products to meet treatment needs;

At the proposal of the Minister of Health,

DECISION:

Article 1: Approve the "Blood Safety Program" with the main contents as follows:

1. Name of the program: Blood Safety Program

2. Implementation period: from 2001 to 2010, divided into three stages as follows:

Stage 1: from 2001 to 2003.

Stage 2: from 2004 to 2006.

Stage 3: from 2007 to 2010.

Each stage will have a mid-term review, and at the end of the program, there will be a final evaluation of its effectiveness.

3. Managing agency of the program: Ministry of Health

4. Objectives of the program:

a. General objectives:

Gradually provide quality and safe blood and blood products for emergency, treatment, and prevention of disasters; ensure adequate blood reserves for security, defense, and disaster needs; use blood and blood products rationally, effectively, and economically - contributing to reducing mortality rates, disease incidence, enhancing international cooperation, and investment.

b. Specific objectives:

- Strive to meet the demand for blood and blood products for treatment, ensuring adequate blood reserves for security, defense, and disaster needs, with targets: nationwide collection of 180,000 liters/year (meeting 50% of needs by 2005) and 380,000 liters/year (meeting over 90% of needs by 2010).

- Significantly change the structure of blood donors. Voluntary non-remunerated blood donors reach 50% (by 2005) and over 70% (by 2010). Eliminate blood collection from high-risk groups, encourage repeat donations, and improve the health of blood donors.

- Ensure that 100% of blood units (one unit = 250 ml) are screened for five infectious diseases before transfusion across the country: HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, malaria. Ensure ABO and Rh blood group typing and abnormal antibody screening before transfusion at 100% central and provincial hospitals.

- By 2005, produce blood products and achieve partial blood transfusion at 50%, and by 2010, reach 70% of total collected blood. Standardize blood products to international standards at three centers: Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City by 2005, and at centers: Can Tho, Dak Lak, Thai Nguyen, Son La, Hai Phong, Nghe An, Phu Tho, Khanh Hoa, and other centers by 2010.

- Improve blood safety at hospitals, including rational, effective, and economical use of blood and blood products.

5. Main solutions to implement the objectives:

a) Organize and build a national blood system reasonably towards concentration and modernization in three areas: voluntary blood donation mobilization, blood banks, and blood utilization. Prioritize building provincial and regional blood banks to ensure the ability to supply high-quality and safe blood to hospitals within the province/region, including district hospitals.

b) Socialize voluntary blood donation mobilization work according to Decision No. 43/2000/QD-TTg dated April 7, 2000 of the Prime Minister to increase safe blood donors. Strengthen integrated and coordinated activities with various programs and mass organizations. Promote cooperation between central and local levels, and enhance the contribution and development responsibility of localities and the Blood Safety Program.

c) Update equipment and techniques to improve the quantity and quality of blood collection, infectious disease screening, production of blood products, and safe storage and distribution of blood to hospitals within the province/region.

d) Establish hospital blood safety systems, plan annual blood supply needs, guide rational blood and blood product usage, inspect hospital blood safety regulations, and ensure safe blood transfusions at patient beds.

đ) Train staff and technicians with expertise in blood safety, ensuring proficient use of modern equipment and techniques. Standardize equipment, techniques, blood products, and diagnostic reagents used in blood banks.

e) Enhance the quality of national blood safety management system, including:

- Amend and supplement the Blood Transfusion Regulations (issued in 1992) to align with domestic blood transfusion conditions and international practices during 2001-2010.

- Implement hierarchical blood bank management at three levels: central, provincial, and district.

- Establish a quality control system for blood safety from the central level down to the district level, aiming to standardize equipment - techniques - diagnostic reagents and blood products to national and international standards.

g) Strengthen cooperation with countries in the region and worldwide, and international organizations to enhance training and scientific research quality.

h) Build the Hanoi Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion into a leading institute under the Ministry of Health for specialized guidance, staff training in hematology and blood transfusion, while ensuring sufficient safe and high-quality blood supply for treatment needs in the capital area.

i) Enhance the responsibility, contributions, and cooperation of relevant ministries, sectors, and local authorities during the implementation of the program and maintain its sustainability after completion.

6. Investment funds:

Investment funds from various sources:

a) State budget.

b) ODA assistance.

c) Preferential state credit.

d) Recovered funds.

đ) Other sources of funds.

Article 2: Annually, the Ministry of Planning and Investment will take the lead, coordinate with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Health to allocate funds for submission to the Prime Minister for consideration and decision.

Article 3: The Ministry of Health shall be responsible for:

1. Take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors to organize and implement the "Blood Safety Program," ensuring sufficient high-quality blood and blood products for emergency, treatment, and adequate blood reserves for security, defense, and disaster needs.

2. Organize and build a reasonable national blood system from the central to the district level.

3. Direct units to develop projects for approval in accordance with current regulations.

4. Organize inspections and checks on the implementation of blood safety regulations and rational blood and blood product usage at hospitals.

Article 4: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Education and Training shall be responsible for widely publicizing blood donation for humanitarian purposes. Ministries, sectors, People's Committees at all levels shall cooperate with the Ministry of Health to effectively implement the "Safe Blood Transfusion Program." It is recommended that the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, the Red Cross Society, and the Youth Union at all levels cooperate with ministries and sectors in promoting and mobilizing the people to participate in blood donation for humanitarian purposes.

Article 5: This Decision shall take effect fifteen days from the date of issuance.

Article 6: Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies, heads of government-affiliated agencies, Chairpersons of provincial and centrally-administered city People's Committees are responsible for implementing this Decision.