Press Release
December 19, 2013

SENATOR GUINGONA FILES BILL ESTABLISHING
BLOOD CENTER IN THE COUNTRY

SB 2047 hopes to cut maternal deaths by assuring sufficient blood supply in PH

Senator Teofisto "TG" Guingona III, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, has filed Senate Bill 2047 establishing a blood disease and transfusion center in the country.

Known as the Philippine Blood Disease and Transfusion Center Act, the bill seeks to establish a government corporate entity (Blood Center) that will offer comprehensive care for patients with blood diseases, including blood transfusion services, for public welfare.

The Blood Center shall also undertake teaching programs and research activities to successfully accomplish its mandate.

"There has been an unprecedented need for blood and blood products resulting from the rising incidence of dengue fever and its hemorrhagic forms, the increasing threat of HIV and other blood borne infections. The Blood Center this bill proposes is envisioned to provide capacity for safe blood products, augmenting the medical services provided by hospitals and partner agencies," Sen. Guingona explained.

Sen. Guingona said the Blood Center will be the lead hospital in the training of medical and paramedical professionals regarding blood diseases and transfusion medicine,

The good governance advocate also hopes that the establishment of the Blood Center will complement the National Blood Services Act of 1994 and will be aligned with the national goal of drastically reducing maternal deaths through the assurance of adequate supply of blood.

In the proposed measure, the Philippine Blood and Transfusion Center will be under the direct supervision of the Department of Health. The amount of P850 million pesos will be appropriated for its initial operation and maintenance.

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