'Restricted sharing among blood banks'

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Restricted sharing among blood banks

Dubai - DHA says the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank and Sharjah Blood Bank are no longer able to supply blood and blood products to the facilities outside the respective Emirates.

by

Asma Ali Zain

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Published: Wed 20 Jan 2016, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Thu 21 Jan 2016, 11:15 AM

Blood banks will no longer supply blood and its components to private facilities, if the facility is not based within the same emirate, according to a recent decision.
A circular issued last month by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said that the Abu Dhabi Blood Bank and Sharjah Blood Bank are no longer able to supply blood and blood products to the facilities outside the respective Emirate.
The circular is addressed to day-care centres, dental and diagnostic centres, school clinics and rehab centres.
"According to the above decision, the private healthcare institutions located in Dubai will not receive blood and blood products from the above blood banks (Abu Dhabi and Sharjah)," read the circular.
"The blood bank of DHA has to prepare itself to meet the demand of Dubai," it added. An official from the Ministry of Health (MoH) that oversees the Sharjah Blood Bank denied that such a decision had been taken.
"We are still supplying blood.but I cannot comment more than this," said the official, who does not want to disclose his identity.
The DHA did not respond to a comment asking how it plans to meet the Emirate's needs.
Demand for blood and its components peaks during Ramadan and in summer when people proceed on leave outside the UAE.
The Dubai Blood Donation Centre (DBDC) then often asks its registered donors to come forward to donate.
Dr Laila Al Shaer, former head of the centre had earlier told Khaleej Times that the centre always had arrangements for extra blood units before summer. The centre currently has 80,000 registered donors. However, not all of them are active.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com


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