General UAE Legal Questions LawCabinet Resolution No. (63) of 2020 Regarding the Freezing of Red Blood Cells, their Components and Rare Blood Groups for Emergency Cases and Purposes of Emergency, Crises and Disasters

Article (1) Definitions In application of the provisions of this Resolution, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings ascribed thereto, unless the context requires otherwise: State : United Arab Emirates. Ministry : Ministry of Health & Prevention. Minister : Minister of Health & Prevention. Health Authorities : The Ministry or any federal or local government authority concerned with health affairs in UAE. National Level : Health Authorities at the State level. Centre : The Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Centre in the Ministry.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2020 Regarding the Freezing of Red Blood Cells, their Components and Rare Blood Groups for Emergency Cases and Purposes of Emergency, Crises and Disaster 2 Blood Donation Centers : Governmental centers concerned with dealing with donors and are responsible for providing blood and its components to governmental and private hospitals in the UAE. Director of Blood Donation Centers : The employee responsible for managing the Centre in each Health Authority. Authority : National Emergency, Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA). Blood Supplies Strategic Medical Stockpile : They are Quantities of supplies (medical materials) and solutions that are used to collect and check blood units and their components. The Blood Donation Centers shall store and keep such quantities and use them in providing medical and health services in emergencies, and for the purposes of emergencies, crises and disasters in accordance with the provisions hereof. Strategic Blood Stockpile : They are Quantities of normal and frozen blood units or their components. The Blood Donation Centers shall store and keep such quantities and used them to provide blood and its components in emergencies, and for the purposes of emergencies, crises and disasters in accordance with the provisions hereof.

Article (2) Provision & Management of Strategic Blood Stockpile for the Purposes of Emergencies, Crises and Disasters 1. The Health Authority, according to the geographical scope of its jurisdiction, shall take the necessary measures to provide and manage the Blood Freezing Supplies Strategic Medical Stockpile and the Strategic Blood Stockpile, and pay against the costs, in accordance with the provisions of this Resolution. 2. The Blood Supplies Strategic Medical Stockpile and the Strategic Blood Stockpile shall be used to respond to medical and health needs to face any exceptional situation resulting from an emergency, crisis or disaster.

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Cabinet Resolution of 2020 Regarding the Freezing of Red Blood Cells, their Components and Rare Blood Groups for Emergency Cases and Purposes of Emergency, Crises and Disaster 3 3. The quantity of the Blood Supplies Strategic Medical Stockpile and the quantity of blood and its groups for the Strategic Blood Stockpile shall be sufficient to cover the health needs for the period of time specified by the Minister in coordination with the Authority and other Health Authorities.

Article (8) Strategic Blood Stockpile Use & Request 1. The Blood Supplies Strategic Medical Stockpile and the Strategic Blood Stockpile may not be requested or used, except in cases of emergency, crises or disasters that are declared in accordance with the legislation in force in this regard. 2. The Minister shall issue a decision to request the Strategic Blood Stockpile at the national level in cases of emergency, crises or disasters. 3. The Centre undertakes the implementation procedures of the decision to request and manage the Blood Supplies Strategic Medical Stockpile and the Strategic Blood Stockpile referred to in Clause (2) of this Article at the national level, in coordination with the Authority. 4. The Director of the blood donation center may use the Strategic Blood Stockpile in emergency medical cases, especially in case of rare blood groups after coordination with the Centre, provided that such stockpile is compensated by providing similar blood units. 5. The directors of blood donation centers, after coordination with the center, may use the Strategic Blood Stockpile in cases of recycling to avoid damage due to expiration, provided that such stockpile is replaced by similar blood units.

Article (11) General Provisions 1. For the purpose of implementing this Resolution, an electronic link shall be established between the Health Authorities and the Centre, and the Centre in turn shall be responsible for electronic linkage with the National Operations Centre in the Authority, in order to follow up and manage the Strategic Blood Stockpile and its components, in accordance with the controls set by the Centre. 2. The Minister may take whatever measures deemed appropriate, including negotiation with the competent companies and any other party useful for cooperation for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this Resolution, especially to handle the freezing process within the framework of the strategic partnership between the government and private sectors.