Minister of Health Abdulla Ameen has launched the national blood policy to enhance the access and availability of Thalassemia services and medicine nationwide.
Launching the policy is included in the 100-day pledge policy of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. The National Blood Policy was launched to provide thalassemia patients with necessary medications and treatments from the area they are living.
Speaking at the ceremony, Health Minister Abdulla Ameen said the government pledges to support a sustained mechanism to ensure continuous supply and services are available for thalassemia patients nationwide and to strengthen current existing services. The minister said the pledge also aims to provide equal benefits for the patients in the capital and in the atolls. In this regard, he noted there are 270 thalassemia patients in the atolls who struggle to receive proper medication and treatment.
The health minister said the new blood policy will strengthen the efforts of all relevant authorities to provide better services for the patients across Maldives.
Meanwhile, at the ceremony, World Health Organization (WHO) representative to Maldives Dr. Arvind Mathur spoke on the importance of such a policy to Maldives.
A well-organised nationally coordinated blood transfusion service is a vital component of healthcare delivery system. Therefore, the policy is a prerequisite to ensure the provision of a safe, adequate and accessible supply of high-quality blood and blood products to all patients in need of a transfusion.
Under the policy, the government will ensure the provision of safe and quality blood and blood components for every patient in need of transfusion through a well-coordinated national blood transfusion service and also encourage research and development in blood transfusion services and haematological disorders.