The Finnish Red Cross Blood Service shoulders its global responsibility for fostering the common good by sharing its expertise via its specialist services. We are participants in numerous international co-operative bodies and organisations. These include the Council of Europe, the International Federation of Red Cross Societies, The World Health Organisaton (WHO), the European Blood Alliance (EBA) and many professional organisations that promote the cause of the various blood services, blood transfusion medicine and stem cell, tissue and organ transplants.
Our specialists participate in the EU working groups in the capacity of experts sent by Finland, who help draft directives and recommendations that govern the work of the various blood services. In the Council of Europe, we participate in the work of the European Committee on Blood Transfusion and in the annual renewal process of the Guide to the preparation, use and quality assurance of blood components. In the European Blood Alliance, we are active participants in various development projects. As a co-operation body for national blood services, the Alliance seeks to promote and develop, in collaboration with the officials of the European Union, the work carried out by the various blood services and in blood transfusion medicine, as well as gathering and disseminating information that supports the work of the blood services.
In Finland, the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health is in charge of legislation governing the work of blood services. The Finnish Medicines Agency Fimea, operating under the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health, supervises the operations of the Finnish Red Cross Blood Services. The Finnish Red Cross Blood Services works in close international co-operation with the authorities to develop blood services.
Blood Service experts take part in the development of blood services in Nepal from 2018 to 2020. As a part of the three-year project coordinated by GAP, an organisation of the international Red Cross, local blood service personnel will be trained and educated in various tasks, including blood collection, occupational safety and hygiene as well as securing donor safety. Relief work is carried out in Kathmandu and the central and eastern parts of the country, where the infrastructure was severely damaged by the 2015 earthquakes. Read more about the project in Nepal!
