Haemovigilance as a quality indicator in transfusion medicine: Pakistan’s perspective

Abstract

In transfusion medicine, the concept of haemovigilance has emerged during the last three decades. It is structured and systematic surveillance of the entire vein-to-vein transfusion chain and a powerful quality tool. Haemovigilance has become an integral component of transfusion medicine. It helps increase safety and improves quality during blood donation and blood transfusion, from the blood donor to recipient of blood and blood components. The haemovigilance can be successfully implemented and maximum benefit obtained if the data analysis and resulting conclusions are mutually shared with the shareholders. Although haemovigilance has proven to be an effective tool to influence policy development, it is is not well established in Pakistan. The government’s Safe Blood Transfusion Programme has taken key initiatives to introduce, support, and consolidate the haemovigilance system necessitating many changes, in the system, in the institutions, in attitude, and behaviour. The implementation of haemovigilance in Pakistan will require a major paradigm shift. It will be a stepwise or staged approach, starting from institutional to regional/provincial levels and ending at the national level.