Dr Ri Hak Rim, Senior Official of the Department of Blood Safety MoPH, warmly welcomed WHO country office team and mentioned that blood transfusion is an essential component of health care and greatly appreciated WHO support for blood bags, reaching 130,000 bags in the previous biennium of 2018-2019 which have contributed a lot to the National Blood Safety Programme to address the need for safe blood and improve the health care of people.
And entering the year 2020, the Ministry of Public Health is strongly intended to have its own production of blood bags in the scale of self-sufficiency in the country which is approximately 150,000 pcs every year.
He mentioned that the Ministry had invited Thai Blood Safety Program on November 2008 and became to get its viewpoint and some experience on the blood bag production.
On the basis of these experience, the MoPH would build a blood bag plant with the support of WHO, which will be sustainable support to the country, enabling the National Blood Safety Programme continuously provide the people with safe, effective and quality assured blood bags and its products.
Of course there will be some obstructions as the National Blood Center will have the first plant of its own in the naïve production field.
So any kind of difficulties will be discussed further with WHO country office and Dr Edwin Salvador, WHO Representative agreed with his viewpoint and good decision.
Dr Edwin Salvador, WHO Representative, mentioned again the importance of blood transfusion and encouraged the National Blood Safety Programme for more achievement to access safe, effective and quality assured blood products.
He mentioned WHO country office will continue to support blood bags to address the ongoing need for 150,000 pcs even in this year 2020 as the blood bag plant will not run immediately. And furthermore, any arising issues in the whole process for local production will be discussed in detail and supported, he mentioned.
Dr Rezwan MD Kamar, Technical Officer of the WHO country office, recommended the MoPH to have SWOT analysis and mentioned that a technical assistance/guidance is also important in the blood transfusion and the relevant guidelines should be developed as well.
At last they looked around the building space for blood bag plant and they had memorial photograph taken. The meeting was significant and excellent.