RA 7719

What is Republic Act 7719?

National Blood Services Act of 1994

When was RA 7719 approved?

May 5, 1994

How many sections does RA 7719 contain?

15 sections

What are the main objectives of RA 7719?

To promote voluntary blood donation, provide an adequate supply of safe blood, regulate blood banks, and impose penalties for violations

Which program targets the youth as volunteers in the blood donation program?

National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP)

Why is it necessary to regulate blood banks?

To protect the constitutional right to health and ensure public safety

Which organization released a study on the Philippine blood banking system from September 28, 1993, to January 15, 1994?

New Tropical Medicine Foundation with the US Agency for International Development

What was the main finding of the 1992 study on blood banking in the Philippines?

64.4% of blood units were collected by commercial blood banks, most of which were unregulated

What percentage of donors in commercial blood banks received remuneration in 1992?

99.6%

What administrative order revised blood banking guidelines in 1989?

AO No. 57, series of 1989

What event led to the revision of blood banking guidelines in 1989?

The discovery of AIDS in 1979 and the first case of HIV in an infant in 1982

What was the first case of blood transfusion-associated AIDS?

1984

What is covered under Section 2 of RA 7719?

Declaration of Policy

What is the primary goal of Section 2?

To encourage voluntary blood donation and instill public awareness of its importance

What does Section 3 of RA 7719 define?

Key terms related to blood banking and transfusion

Which administrative order formulated the rules for implementing RA 7719?

AO 9, series of 1995

Which administrative order established licensing requirements for blood banks?

AO 17-A, series of 1998

Which administrative order established the Philippine National Blood Services?

AO 2005-0002

Which administrative order governs blood service facility regulations?

AO 2008-0008

What services does a Blood Station (BS) provide?

Promotion of voluntary blood donation, storage, issuance, transport, and distribution of whole blood and packed red cells

What additional function does a hospital-based Blood Station (BS) have?

Compatibility testing of red cell units

What are the main functions of a Blood Collection Unit (BCU)?

Recruitment and screening of donors, collection of blood, and transport to a Blood Center for testing and processing

What is the role of a Blood Bank (BB)?

Storage and issuance of blood components, compatibility testing, investigation of transfusion reactions, and post-transfusion surveillance

Who is required to head a Blood Bank?

A pathologist or a physician specializing in Hematology

What services does a Blood Center (BC) provide?

Recruitment of donors, blood collection, testing for transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs), blood processing, storage, and distribution

Which facility is an example of a Blood Center and a Blood Bank?

East Avenue Medical Center

What is mandated under Section 7 of RA 7719?

Phase-out of commercial blood banks within two years of the law’s effectivity

What is stated in Section 8 of RA 7719?

All blood banks must operate on a non-profit basis

What does Section 9 of RA 7719 regulate?

Blood banks and their operations

What is the penalty for overpricing blood products?

1 to 6 months imprisonment and a fine of ₱5,000 to ₱50,000

What is the penalty for operating a blood bank without a license?

12 to 20 years imprisonment and a fine of ₱50,000 to ₱500,000

What is the penalty for failing to dispose of contaminated blood?

10 years imprisonment

What are the five transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs) screened by Blood Centers?

HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Malaria, and Syphilis

Where is testing for transfusion transmissible infections performed?

Only in Blood Centers (BCs)

What are the staffing requirements for a hospital-based blood station?

Managed by a pathologist certified by the Philippine Board of Pathology

What are the staffing requirements for a non-hospital-based blood station?

Managed by a physician with at least 3 months of blood banking training

Which blood service facilities require a License to Operate (LTO)?

Blood Banks (BB) and Blood Centers (BC)

Which blood service facilities require an Authority to Operate (ATO)?

Blood Collection Units (BCU) and Blood Stations (BS)

How long is the validity of a License to Operate (LTO) for a Blood Service Facility?

3 years

How long is the validity of a License to Operate (LTO) under the One-Stop-Shop Licensing System?

1 year

Which agencies inspect and monitor blood service facilities?

Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau (HFSRB) and Center for Health Development (CHD)

How soon after filing an application must CHD conduct an inspection?

Within 30 days

What happens if a blood facility operates without an LTO/ATO?

It is prohibited from collecting blood unless authorized by the attending physician under DOH regulations

How are blood service facilities classified?

By ownership (government/private), institutional character (hospital-based/non-hospital based), and service capability

What are the different classifications of blood service facilities based on service capability?

Blood Station (BS), Blood Collection Unit (BCU), Blood Bank (BB), and Blood Center (BC)

Refers to human blood, processed or unprocessed, including its components and derivatives

Blood or blood product

A facility that recruits donors, collects, processes, stores, transports, and issues blood for transfusion

Blood bank or center

A blood bank that exists for profit

Commercial blood bank

A blood bank located within a hospital that performs compatibility testing

Hospital-based blood bank

A facility authorized by DOH to recruit and screen donors and collect blood

Blood collection unit

A person who donates blood voluntarily without monetary compensation

Voluntary blood donor

A disease transmitted through blood transfusion, such as HIV, Hepatitis B, Malaria, and Syphilis

Blood transfusion transmissible disease

An individual included in the list of voluntary donors who is ready to donate when needed

Walking blood donor

A unit, agency, or institution that provides blood products

Blood Service Facility (BSF)

A classification of blood service facilities based on ownership

Government or Private

A classification of blood service facilities based on institutional character

Hospital-based or Non-hospital based

A classification of blood service facilities based on service capability

Blood Station (BS), Blood Collection Unit (BCU), Blood Station/Blood Collection Unit (BS/BCU), Blood Bank (BB), Blood Center (BC)

A blood service facility that promotes voluntary blood donation and a healthy lifestyle, provides whole blood and packed red cells, and performs compatibility testing if hospital-based

Blood Station (BS)

The entire blood collected during donation, not subjected to separation processes

Whole blood

Blood component obtained by removing plasma, retaining only red blood cells

Packed red cell

Blood component obtained by extracting plasma and further processing via centrifugation

Platelets

The remaining plasma after processing, refrigerated for preservation

Fresh Frozen Plasma

The precipitate of fresh frozen plasma after melting and centrifugation

Cryoprecipitate

The supernatant of fresh frozen plasma after melting and centrifugation

Cryosupernatant

The process of ensuring compatibility between donor and recipient red blood cells

Crossmatching

A blood service facility authorized to recruit, screen, and collect blood from voluntary donors

Blood Collection Unit (BCU)

A blood service facility responsible for donor recruitment, health education, blood collection, and transport to a Blood Center for testing

Blood Collection Unit (BCU)

A blood service facility that combines the functions of a Blood Station and Blood Collection Unit

Blood Station/Blood Collection Unit (BS/BCU)

An organization commonly associated with Blood Stations/Blood Collection Units

Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC)

Why do some PNRC branches qualify as Blood Stations but not Blood Collection Units?

They store blood but do not collect it

A blood service facility responsible for storing and issuing whole blood and blood components obtained from a Blood Center

Blood Bank (BB)

The following services are provided by this facility: compatibility testing, direct Coombs test, red cell antibody screening, investigation of transfusion reactions, and post-transfusion surveillance

Blood Bank (BB)

Who is required to head a Blood Bank?

A Pathologist or a Physician specializing in Hematology

A blood service facility responsible for donor recruitment, blood collection, testing for transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs), processing blood components, and distributing blood to hospitals

Blood Center (BC)

A blood service facility that provides storage, issuance, transport, and distribution of whole blood and blood products to healthcare facilities

Blood Center (BC)

An example of a medical institution that functions as both a Blood Center and a Blood Bank

East Avenue Medical Center

A major blood service facility in the Philippines responsible for large-scale blood processing and distribution

Philippine Blood Center

Who is responsible for dispensing, transfusing, and failing to dispose of contaminated blood with transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs)?

Blood banking head and Blood banking staff trained in blood banking