DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO TURKEY
AVRUPA BİRLİĞİ TÜRKİYE DELEGASYONU
Press Release / Basın Duyurusu
EU AND TURKEY COLLABORATE TO ENSURE QUALITY AND
SAFETY OF DONATED BLOOD FOR PATIENTS
The EU and Turkey are launching the "Strengthening the Blood Supply
System" project on 14 June 2012, World Blood Donor Day, to ensure safe
blood for patients.
The project, "Strengthening the Blood Supply System" started in February 2012 with an EU
contribution of €2.8 million. The project aims to establish an effective blood supply system by
developing a regionally-based blood programme. Activities seek to ensure alignment with EU
laws and regulations, train staff, set blood banking and transfusion standards and create a
data management system for the regular flow of information between blood establishments
and national authorities.
The main beneficiary of the project is Turkey's Ministry of Health. The Turkish Red Crescent
is also a beneficiary. The project aims to strengthen safety of the chain from the blood donor
to the patient, by improving the functioning of the blood supply system and by strengthening
the traceability of supply. It also includes measures to encourage voluntary and unpaid blood
donations.
Turkey has already improved safety of blood and related products, and the harmonisation of
its legislation to European Union standards is underway.
Donations of human blood and plasma form the basis for a wide range of essential, often lifesaving therapies. Blood and its components are also used for routine surgical procedures
and therapies to prolong the quality of life. World Donor's Day is celebrated since 2005 to
raise global awareness about the need for safe blood and regular voluntary donations.
For further information, please contact the Delegation:
Figen Tunçkanat, Tel.: (+90 312) 459 87 00, figen.tunçkanat@eeas.europa.eu
Ankara, DATE
ADONIS No
Uğur Mumcu Caddesi No:88 Kat:4 Gaziosmanpaşa 06700 Ankara
Tel.: (+90 312) 459 87 00 Faks: (+90 312) 446 67 37 E-posta: delegation-turkey@eeas.europa.eu
Internet: http://www.avrupa.info.tr