The BTA has successfully joined the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM) group working on a Blood Supply Contingency and Emergency Plan (B-SCEP). The BTA representative to this group, Ms Pascale van Hoydonck, Director Regulatory Affairs EMEA at Terumo BCT, joined a meeting of the group on 15 September as an ad-hoc expert.
The overall objective of the project is to strengthen National and EU level plans for ensuring the continuity of blood supply in emergency situations. In addition, the project will raise awareness and facilitate exchange of expertise and knowledge.
The objective of the B-SCEP group is to strengthen national and EU level plans for ensuring continuity of blood supply in emergency situations. This will be done through mapping and analysing the existing contingency frameworks in place at a national level in Europe, and by providing recommendations including model preparedness plans that can be expanded into a concrete guidance. The EDQM will work on a survey to get input from a National level. Based on the survey report, this WG will work on the recommendation.
We believe this is a very positive development as it allows for the BTA to comment on the recommendations put forth by the group from the perspective of the blood bag set suppliers. It is important that the BTA continue to participate in opportunities such as this for ongoing dialogue.