Implications of Confidential Unit Exclusion in Providing Sufficient Safe Blood for the National Health System

Blood transfusion at present and for the foreseeable future will be an essential component of health care systems. Blood transfusion is one of the most important lifesaving medical interventions which save millions of lives each year. Constant needs of patients waiting for surgery or suffering from trauma, severe anemia or complications of pregnancy to the blood and/or its components which necessitates the availability of timely and safe blood transfusion in healthcare facilities (1). Despite the presence of substantial concerns regarding the safety of blood transfusion practices in some countries (2), recent achievements in the field of transfusion safety have provided fruitful results. The world’s blood supply has never been as safe as it is today. During the past several decades dramatic progress has been made in reducing the risk of transfusion transmitted infections (TTI). In some countries this risk has been reduced to a negligible level (3). These achievements can mainly be credited to improvements in policy and structure, recruitment of volunteer donors, the implementation of basic concepts of quality assurance in blood services and the use of high level technology in blood transfusion practices. In addition to these universal interventions some countries have also implemented interventions specific to their own national health systems.