The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is to review its donor profile policy after it was slammed as racist. It will in future no longer use race to determine blood risk level.
This was announced after an urgent meeting between a high-level delegation from the department of health and the blood service's top management on Friday. The meeting was held after it emerged this week that the blood of black and coloured people was considered too risky and was therefore disposed of.
It came to light in a ruling by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in a case held in Pretoria between the SANBS and the Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa over the unfair dismissal of a union member.
Poppie Bereng, a nurse, was dismissed because she opposed the SANBS's policy of not using the blood of black or coloured donors, no matter how long they had been donating blood, because they were considered to be too much of a risk. Their blood was instead incinerated or destroyed in another manner.
The CCMA said the SANBS should re-employ Bereng and pay her R46 662 as six months of her salary. The department of health said it was agreed that using racial categories of donors to determine the risk levels of blood was unacceptable.
"The current risk-rating model needs to be reviewed as a matter of urgency and more scientific determinants should be used in an integrated manner to identify risks."
The statement said the SANBS had informed the department that it used many criteria to rate the risk of donations. These included risky behaviour, sexual practices and a healthy lifestyle. Race was included as one of the risk factors based on statistical analysis and other research. All risk factors were taken into account.
The department said the SANBS used all blood in accordance with internationally recognised health and safety standards. "HIV infection in particular poses a major challenge for blood transfusion services because of the window period when a possible infection cannot be detected."
There was a need to continuously update the risk profiling of blood based on scientific evidence to maintain the highest possible safety levels.
"Irrespective of race, repeat donors who avoid risky behaviour and lead a healthy life are essential to maintain a consistent supply of low-risk blood."