What principles underpin Canadian Blood Services?
On September 10, 1996, Federal, Provincial and Territorial Health Ministers articulated some of the guiding principles for Canadian Blood Services. They agreed that: • the safety of the blood system is paramount • a fully integrated approach is essential • accountabilities must be clear • the system must be transparent In particular, the Ministers confirmed that the new supply system would adhere to a set of key founding principles designed to: • maintain/protect the voluntary donor system • pursue national self-sufficiency • encourage adequacy/security of supply • confirm safety of all blood components • preserve gratuity of all blood to recipients within insured health services • achieve a cost-effective/cost-efficient system • maintain a national blood program They also agreed that the new blood authority should operate at arm’s length from all governments and that it will be “…responsible for managing all aspects of an accountable and fully-integrated blood supply system.” Canadi
