Set up National Blood Service Board to fully enforce ACT 1042 – GAMLS to govt

Read the full statement of GAMLS: 

NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICE NEEDS A GOVERNING BOARD

The Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS) immediately demands the set up and commissioning of A governing board to give life to the National Blood Service Act, 2020 (ACT
1042) GAMLS has studied the documentary by the multimedia group aired on 16th February 2022 on the sale of blood syndicate at the National Blood Service (NBS) and a subsequent press release by the NBS on the 17th of February 2022.

Having consulted membership across the country on matters relating to blood transfusion services and whether things have improved after the birth of the Act 1042, the professional body could not agree better on any immediate solution than to demand for a governing board which has been absent for almost two years after the law was enacted.

Blood transfusion services previously operated with a policy in Ghana. The service was riddled with challenges that made it difficult for patients to obtain blood whenever it was needed. Parliament thought it wise to give a law to make blood transfusion services available, safe and affordable. Snippets of complaints in the various hospitals being corroborated by the expose on the blood sale syndicate indicate
that till the law starts biting all efforts to curb the menace associated with blood transfusion services will
not be fruitful.

GAMLS calls on the Minister of Health to as a matter of urgency, finalize processes to set up and commission a governing board for the National Blood Service ACT 2020 (ACT 1042). Safe blood in our hospitals cannot be a gamble anymore. The time to act is now.

Voluntary blood donation is the answer and GAMLS urges the public to keep helping. Blood is not SOLD.

Laboratory regards,

Dr. Dennis Adu-Gyasi, FWAPCMLS (Immunol)

Source : africaneditors.com