MEF allocates $4.5 million for National Hemocenter

The Assembly gives green light to the National Hemocenter and the board that will direct it

The coordinator of the National Blood Program of Minsa, Arinda Alemán clarified that, although the law contemplates the creation of a hemocenter, this does not mean that it will begin to work at once.

For now, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) allocated $ 4.5 million for the hemocenter, although it has not yet been defined whether it will be in a rented space or in a new facility that needs to be built.

Alemán explained that  the 581 bill includes an article of "transition", in which states that the blood banks that presently operates in the country will continue until the National Hemocenter has the necessary autonomy.

Minsa reports indicate that there are 28 blood banks in the country, of which 11 are in facilities of the Social Security Fund, 10 in Minsa hospitals and 7 in private care centers.

In the opinion of the President of the Commission of Work, Health and Social Development of the National Assembly, José Castillo , the creation of the national hemocenter will encourage the donation of blood.

In Panama, the registry of donors does not exceed 1.5% of the population. According to the Pan American Health Organization, the optimal standards point to a registry of between 3% and 5% of the total of the inhabitants whose ages range between 18 and 65 years.