Current state of blood transfusion service in Mongolia

Abstract

In 1963, Mongolian blood transfusion service was established officially with the independent creation of Blood Transfusion Central Station in Ulaanbaatar. In the following year of 1964, rural blood centers were organized under the provincial central hospitals in all provinces, thus blood transfusion care and service has started nationwide. As part of the continuous improvement of the legal framework for the blood transfusion sector, the Donor Law of Mongolia was adopted in 2000, amended in 2012, and revised in 2018. In 1994, Mongolian blood transfusion service has shifted from paid blood donation practice to the nonremunerated and has achieved a 100% voluntary nonremunerated blood donor, in 2016. The World Health Organization recommends that in low- and middle-income countries, the share of blood donors in the total population to be 1.5. As of 2020, this figure has reached at 1.8% in Ulaanbaatar. The National Center for Transfusion Medicine (NCTM) has introduced drastic technological innovations in blood and blood products (BBP) production periodically. Since 2007, the NCTM has been implementing three international standards in its activity including requirements for quality and competence for medical laboratories MNS ISO 15189:2015, quality management system MNS ISO 9001:2016, and occupational health and safety management system OHSAS 18001:2007/MNS OHSAS 18001/2012. In 2020, the Mongolian blood transfusion service provided safe and quality assured BBP to health care organizations with 100% of fulfillment nationwide.