A
new platform launched by the European Commission will improve the
safety of patients that undergo medical treatment involving blood and
blood products.
From today, national health authorities can use
the web-based Rapid Alert system for Blood and Blood Components (RAB)
that allows them to exchange information so that cross-border incidents
are prevented or contained and immediate measures can be taken to ensure
the safety of patients. RAB will be used in parallel with existing
national vigilance systems which collect and manage the alerts related
to blood donated and used in the same Member State.
Due to the
high volume of blood donated and transfused every year in the EU - more
than 24 million units of blood and blood components were issued and over
2 million patients were transfused in 2011 alone - vigilance of all
blood and its components transmitted across borders is of great
importance. RAB supports this by allowing quick communication of the
information needed for national authorities to take appropriate
measures.
In addition to quality and safety defects of blood
and blood components, the RAB can be used to raise the alarm on medical
devices used for blood treatment and testing in this field, as well as
on developing epidemiological situations (e.g. disease outbreaks) which
may have cross-border implications on donation.
For more information on blood:
http://ec.europa.eu/health/blood_tissues_organs/blood/index_en.htm
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