Theme for 2009

Achievement of 100 per cent voluntary non-remunerated donation of blood

WHO promotes ethical and safe practices in organ transplantation

WHO Updated Guiding Principles on Human Cell, Tissue and Organ Transplantation were deliberated upon by  30 prominent policy makers and transplant surgeons from the South-East Asia region and  experts from India, Thailand, the United States, Spain and the United Kingdom in a  four-day Regional Meeting held recently at Jaipur, India. The updated Guiding Principles shall facilitate development of an orderly, ethical and acceptable national framework for the acquisition and transplantation of human cells, tissues and organs for therapeutic purposes.

Updated WHO Guiding Principles on Organ Transplantation [PDF 78 KB]

Objectives of the meeting [PDF 27 KB]

Recommendations [PDF 29 KB]

Message from Regional Director [PDF 33 KB]

Press Release

Robust health laboratories critical for efficient health systems

A SEARO-WPRO bi-regional meeting of laboratory experts urged all the countries to develop and implement national laboratory policy and plans to provide efficient support to clinical and public health services for improving health of its people and prevention and control of diseases. 

Key strategic elements of national laboratory policy [PDF 18 KB]

List of experts [PDF 37 KB]

Biosafety infrastructure and practices in health laboratories need strengthening

In a WHO workshop on biosafety and biosecurity in laboratories the need for improved infrastructure and good practices were discussed and several measures agreed to reduce the transmission of infections to laboratory personnel as well as prevent escape of pathogens into the communities.

Objectives of the workshop

Participants

Recommendations

Standards for accreditation of blood banks in India

Quality and safety of blood are critical for patient care. Accreditation of blood banks using national standards is a step forward to ensure availability of safe blood. Ms Sujatha Rao, Director-General, National AIDS Control Organization, India released national standards for Indian blood banks on 25 January 2008.                             

More Information 

WHO recognizes that accreditation plays an important part in the health, safety and well-being of the public. Critical decisions reliant on accurate tests are made hundreds of time each day throughout the world. Assurance that the test reports are reliable, that it conforms to the requirements of the specific test, is supported by accreditation.

Report of advocacy meeting (2006)[PDF 167 KB]

Guidelines on accreditation of health laboratories (2007)[PDF 532 KB]

WHO Collaborating Centre on Quality Systems