AUTOLOGOUS BLOOD BANK

Dr Lily Neo asked the Minister for Health if he will consider setting up an autologous blood bank for the general public.

The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Aline K. Wong) (for the Minister for Health): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Health has been promoting the use of autologous blood transfusion as part of a national strategy to make use of all available blood resources to support our health care services. Demand for blood by our hospitals has been increasing and will continue to do so. Autologous blood collection can complement voluntary donations. However, voluntary donations must remain the main source of blood for our transfusion service.

The Singapore Blood Transfusion Service and many public and private hospitals offer autologous blood collection services. These autologous blood transfusion services include deposits of one's own blood for self use before surgery, collecting the blood in the operating room and the use of blood salvage procedures. The autologous blood collection and banking services are meeting current needs and can be expanded if necessary.

The Singapore Blood Transfusion Service also provides a special service for the long-term storage of autologous blood in the frozen state for persons who may have unusual requirements for transfusion.

These steps taken by the Ministry in respect of autologous blood transfusion should suffice to meet both current and projected needs. My Ministry will review the situation should there be greater demand for autologous blood in the future.

Dr Lily Neo (Kreta Ayer-Tanglin): Sir, I am not referring to autologous blood transfusion which is now available for surgery. I am referring to autologous blood bank for the general public where blood can be stored for use in emergency at any time in the future for a period of up to about 10 years.

Dr Aline Wong: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is not immediately clear from the question raised by the Member that she is referring to this type of long-term storage of blood. For persons who have need for this type of storage beyond the common storage period of five weeks, this service is available at the blood centre. However, based on past demand, this service has not really been popular. As I said, the present services are adequate to meet the demand. We will monitor the situation.

Dr Lily Neo: May I ask if the Ministry is in favour of the setting up of an autologous blood banking service, if necessary, by a private enterprise?

Dr Aline Wong: It is up to the private sector to set up such a service or bank if there is a demand and market for it. I understand that, in the past, there was a private autologous blood bank but, unfortunately, the demand was not there and so about a year ago, it closed the services.

Mr Chiam See Tong: The Minister noted that a private autologous blood bank has been closed. But in view of the recent report of two cases of tainted blood, is there not probably a need now for this kind of a blood bank?

Dr Aline Wong: As I said, the services for autologous blood donation have been there for some years and they are available at many public and private hospitals. We are taking steps to encourage patients and the doctors in hospitals to consider this alternative. We will see what is the pattern of demand.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Are the two reported cases of tainted blood not enough to warrant the Government to start an autologous blood bank? Or is the Government just waiving these two reported cases and not take note of them?

Dr Aline Wong: The two cases of tainted blood are through voluntary donor donation. But as I said, the service for autologous blood donation has always been there. If people are very concerned about this, they can still demand or request for these services at present.

Dr Michael Lim Chun Leng (Cheng San): Sir, as blood product has a limited lifespan and cannot be kept for prolonged periods of time, I would like to ask the Ministry about the suggestion brought up by Dr Lily Neo and whether there is any example of such a so-called autologous blood bank for the general public since it is not possible to keep blood for prolonged periods of time.

Dr Aline Wong: As the Member mentioned, it is feasible but I am not sure how difficult it is to store blood beyond a certain period of time. It is difficult and the demand is not there. Even the experiences of autologous blood banks in other countries have shown that many of them have closed their services.