Haemovigilance in a Low- and Middle-Income Country; Ghana's Experience

• Published in: Drug safety 2024-12, Vol.47 (12), p.1422-1423
• Main Authors: Darko, Delese, Seaneke, Seth, Nkansah, Edwin, Sabblah, George T, Asamoa-Amoakohene, Abena, Ashie, Adela, Dwamena, Felicia, Okyere, Akosua S, Owusu-Ofori, Shirley, Padi, Dilys, Dei, Emmanuel N, Okyere, Mavis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Blood transfusion; Blood transfusions; Capacity development; Decision making; Federal regulation; Funding; Health care; Infrastructure; International cooperation; Medical personnel; Patient safety; Pharmacovigilance; Quality assurance; Regulatory agencies; Strategic planning; Training; Transfusion
• ISSN: 0114-5916; 1179-1942

Aim/Objective: This paper highlights Ghana's efforts in establishing a haemovigilance system, providing insights into the strategies, achievements, lessons learnt and challenges faced. Methods: The paper provides uses institutional data, reports and academic literature to provide a comprehensive overview of the development of Ghana's haemovigilance system. It covers stakeholder engagement, capacity building efforts, review of regulations and the outcome. Results: Strategies • Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration: Actively involving all relevant governmental bodies (Ministry of Health), regulatory agencies [Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), National Blood Service (NBS)], healthcare providers, blood banks with support from an international organization Paul Ehrlich Institut (PEI) to build a comprehensive network for haemovigilance. • Regulatory Framework Enhancement: Reinforcement of regulatory frameworks dedicated to haemovigilance, highlighting reporting requirements, detailing investigation procedures, and measures for quality assurance. Achievements • Development of regulatory documents o Haemovigilance framework and Guidelines on Haemovigilance in Ghana • Development of training materials for healthcare providers involved in the blood transfusion chain Lessons learnt • Use of existing pharmacovigilance system to improve the haemovigilance system taking into account Ghana's healthcare infrastructure and regulatory environment. • The need to secure long-term funding and institutional support for the haemovigilance system to ensure sustainability. Challenges • Constraints - Insufficient funding, lack of staff, and inadequate infrastructure are major obstacles to creating and sustaining a haemovigilance system. Next steps • Capacity Building: o Train healthcare workers to recognize, report, and manage adverse transfusion reactions. • Technology Integration: o Use IT to efficiently collect, report, and analyze data for realtime transfusion monitoring. • Awareness campaigns: o Promote haemovigilance and encourage reporting of adverse events among healthcare providers and the public to ensure safe blood transfusions. Conclusion: Establishing a haemovigilance system in an LMIC is feasible with strategic planning, sustained commitment, and international cooperation, as demonstrated by Ghana's experience. LMICs can improve patient safety and healthcare outcomes by utilizing local strengths and addressing systemic challenges through effective haemovigilance practices to