WHO Regional Workshop on Good Manufacturing Practices for Blood/Plasma Collection Establishments, AMRO/PAHO (2004)
Buenos Aires, Argentina; 28 June – 2 July 2004
Background
The implementation and enforcement of Good Manufacturing Practices in Blood and Plasma Collection Establishments in Latin American countries was considered a priority at the 1st Pan American Conference on Blood Safety (WHO AMRO, 24-26 February 2003) as a tool to minimize the risk of transmitting currently known and emerging blood-borne diseases and to rationalize the number of blood collection establishments.
In order to respond to these needs the Department of Essential Health Technologies in the Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals Cluster (HTP/EHT) held, together with AMRO/PAHO (Unit of Essential Medicines, Vaccines and Clinical Technology), with the support of the PAHO/WHO Representative in Argentina, an Inter-country Workshop on Good Manufacturing Practices for Blood and Plasma Collection Establishments from 28 June to 2 July 2004.
The main objectives of the Workshop were as follows:
- To strengthen and upgrade the technical expertise and information of Medicines Regulatory Authorities and National Blood Programmes on good manufacturing practices (GMP) to assure the quality and safety of blood components, including plasma for fractionation;
- To promote a common GMP Guideline in blood and plasma collection establishments that will assist Regulatory Authorities with operational inspectorates to enforce appropriate international GMP standards in the Region;
- To promote close collaborative links between medicines regulatory authorities within the Region, supporting regulatory capacity-building activities in the area of blood products.