Strengthening essential lifelines: Yamsuan pushes measure establishing central authority for blood services

Parañaque 2nd District Representative Brian Yamsuan is pushing the passage of a measure that aims to modernize the Philippine Blood Center (PBC) to strengthen its mandate of providing timely and safe access to life-saving blood services.

Yamsuan said transforming the PBC into a central body with the administrative autonomy and financial stability to carry out its functions would provide it adequate resources to proactively address the problem of low blood availability in the country, especially during times of disasters and other public health emergencies.

“The Philippine Blood Center currently operates without a legislative charter and its budget remains limited for it to properly perform its functions as the national service facility for blood collection, testing, distribution and other blood-related services. Napakahalaga na mabigyan ito ng sapat na pondo at kapangyarihan dahil napaka-kritikal ang papel nito sa pagsagip ng buhay. (It is very important that it be given enough funds and authority because of its extremely critical role in saving lives),” Yamsuan said.

“As the country celebrates National Blood Donors Month to raise awareness about voluntary blood donation and recognize selfless blood donors, we should likewise put equal focus on the need to institutionalize a national blood center to promote the uniform implementation of standards for blood safety and availability,” he added.

Yamsuan has filed House Bill (HB) 7871, which seeks to provide an initial funding of P100 million to institutionalize the existing PBC.

The PBC was established in 2005 through an administrative issuance of the Department of Health (DOH) to serve as the national service facility for blood collection, testing, processing, storage, and distribution, as well as donor recruitment and training.

Despite these vital functions, the PBC operates without a legislative charter. Thus, its existence, authority, organizational structure and funding remain dependent on administrative issuances and executive priorities.

“Twenty-one years ago pa na-establish ang PBC pero hanggang ngayon, karamihan sa mga kababayan natin ay sa Philippine Red Cross pa rin umaasa kung kailangan nila ng dugo kapag may kritikal na operasyon, sakit o traumatic injuries. Ito ay dahil sa wala naman kasing sapat na pondo at awtoridad ang PBC para maipatupad ang mga tungkulin nito. We need to strengthen the PBC to ensure that we have a national blood system in place that our countrymen can always rely on in times of need,” Yamsuan said.

(The PBC was established twenty one years ago, yet up to now, many of our countrymen depend on the Philippine Red Cross if they need blood for critical surgeries, diseases and traumatic injuries. This is because the PBC lacks the funds and authority to implement its functions.)

Yamsuan said institutionalizing the PBC through HB 7871 will ensure the Center of sufficient funding necessary for it to invest in modern technologies and infrastructure, and sustain a nationwide blood donor mobilization drive to fill the country’s annual requirement of one million units of blood.

To bring blood services closer to underserved communities, the bill also provides for the establishment of regional blood centers that would be fully coordinated with the PBC to ensure that their operations remain aligned with national standards and policies.

“This approach promotes equity in accessing blood services and will dramatically improve response times during emergencies. It will also strengthen capacities at the local level for blood collection and other blood services, and enhance preparedness during public health crises and disasters when rapid mobilization is critical,” Yamsuan said.

Yamsuan pointed out that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all activities related to blood collection, testing, processing, storage and distribution be coordinated at the national level through effective organization and integrated blood supply networks.

The WHO also cited the need for a national blood system governed by a national blood policy and legislative framework to promote uniform implementation of standards and consistency in the quality and safety of blood and blood products.