KUCHING: The Sarawak government is ready to help the Ministry of Health to expand the Blood Bank Information System (BBIS).
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said only three blood banks in the state namely at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Sibu Hospital and Miri Hospital are connected to BBIS Version 2.0, which is linked to MySejahtera.
He noted that 16 blood banks operate manually or without a system and blood donation data that is not currently recorded in the BBIS is not included in the number of donations.
“The state government is ready to help the Ministry of Health expand this system and it can also be used for patient records in all Ministry of Health facilities,” he said.
Abang Johari said this in a text speech read by Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian when officiating at the state-level World Blood Donation Day and 75th anniversary of Malaysia Red Crescent held at The Spring Shopping Mall here, today (June 25).
Later, when met after the event, Dr Sim said that Sarawak currently has 19 blood banks but only three have an information management system and the government was ready to help.
“This is important so that we can manage the donor information well and they also do not need to come to SGH, Sibu Hospital or Miri Hospital but at any government health facilities and the data will be saved automatically,” he said.
In a related matter, he said as many as 200 units of blood are needed following the increase in the number of government and private hospitals in Sarawak to ensure that blood reserves are always stable.
According to him, blood storage supply in Sarawak is always at safe level compared to blood storage in other states.
“We rarely hear about low or critical supply. When it is low in supply, it is usually due to high usage of blood.
“However, this situation can be overcome with the support and cooperation of the public who always respond to the call to donate blood,” he said.
He pointed out that voluntary and continuous blood donation is highly encouraged, especially to ensure stable, safe and quality blood supply.
“The amount of blood collections throughout the state has increased from 52,000 units in 2019 to 56,000 units of blood bags at the end of last year.
“This also shows an increase of 15 percent in three years,” he said.
The event also celebrated 41 blood donors with the most donations who were presented with special certificate to recognise their contributions and at the same time, motivating them as regular donors.
