Blood Banking Laws and Regulations in the Philippines

LAWS RELATED TO BLOOD BANKING

Republic Act No. 1517 - Blood Banking Law of 1956

  • Date of Effectivity: June 16, 1956

  • Purpose:

    • Prevent trafficking of human blood and its products.

    • Regulate establishment and operation of blood banks and processing laboratories.

Section 3 - Prohibitions

  • Unlawful Actions:

    • Establishing or operating blood banks or processing labs without a license.

    • Collecting or processing blood by unlicensed individuals.

    • Selling blood from another person without proper licensing.

  • Emergency Allowance:

    • Blood transfusions may occur without a license under the physician's responsibility.

  • License Requirements:

    • Must follow accepted scientific standards.

    • Must be supervised by a licensed physician.

    • Collection and processing must be by licensed personnel.

Section 4 - Non-Profit Operations

  • Blood banks and laboratories are required to operate on a non-profit basis.

  • Blood is to be sold at cost.

Section 6 - Penalties

  • Violations may result in:

    • Imprisonment: 1 month to 1 year.

    • Fine: ₱100 to ₱1,000 or both.

Republic Act No. 7719 - National Blood Services Act of 1994

  • Date of Effectivity: May 5, 1994

  • Purpose:

    • Promote voluntary blood donation.

    • Ensure an adequate supply of safe blood.

Key Features

  • Focused on voluntary donations as a humanitarian act.

  • Applies to: Blood centers, hospitals, clinics, blood banks.

Section 5 - National Voluntary Blood Services Program (NVBSP)

  • Aimed at addressing blood transfusion needs across the country.

Section 6 - Enhancements

  • Blood banks must provide education regarding transfusion-transmissible diseases.

  • Development of voluntary blood donation programs in hospitals.

Section 7 - Phase-out of Commercial Blood Banks

  • Virtually ban commercial blood banks within 2 years, extendable by the Secretary.

Section 8 - Licensing and Operation

  • Blood banks must comply with non-profit operational standards and collect only necessary service fees.

Section 9 - Regulation

  • Establishing and operating blood banks require registration and adherence to Department standards.

Administrative Orders (A.O.)
A.O. No. 1 s. 1995 - National Voluntary Blood Services Unit (NVBSU)

  • Date of Effectivity: February 1, 1995

  • Role includes increasing voluntary donors and ensuring blood quality.

A.O. No. 9 s. 1995 - Implementation of RA 7719

  • Purpose: Guidelines for RA 7719 compliance.

  • Operations: Non-profit, testing, collection, and storage regulations.

A.O. No. 17 s. 1998 - Licensing Requirements

  • Outlines procedures necessary to obtain a license to operate a blood bank in the Philippines.

Operational Guidelines for Blood Services Network (D.C. No. 2010-0013)

  • Emphasizes safety, quality, patient care, and operational efficacy.

  • Personnel training and blood donor recruitment are prioritized.

Blood Transfusion-Transmissible Diseases

  • Included pathogens:

    • HIV 1 & 2, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Malaria, Syphilis.

International Standards Adoption

  • Compliance with AABB and WHO guidelines.

  • Prohibition on commercialization of blood; all donations must be voluntary.

Administrative Orders Summary

  • Continuous updates on blood service regulations ensure quality control and safety in blood donations and transfusions.