CCMC pushes for blood bank accreditation

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) took another step forward in its bid to be accredited as a Hospital Blood Bank with Additional Functions (HBB++) following a monitoring visit by the Department of Health (DOH) Subnational Blood Center for Visayas.

While CCMC is already recognized as a Level 2 hospital by the DOH, the accreditation process for HBB++ represents a significant expansion of its capacity to deliver safe and reliable blood services to the city’s residents.

A blood bank, as defined by the DOH’s Manual of Standards for Blood Service Facilities and the National Blood Services Act of 1994 (Republic Act 7719), is a hospital-based facility authorized to collect, test, process, store, and issue blood and blood products for transfusion.

These facilities ensure that donated blood is screened for infectious diseases, properly stored, and made available for patients undergoing surgery, trauma care, or treatment for conditions such as anemia and cancer.

Blood banks are vital in maintaining public health and emergency readiness, particularly in urban centers like Cebu City.

The designation of Hospital Blood Bank with Additional Functions, or HBB++, goes beyond the basic role of a blood bank.

Under DOH standards, HBB++ facilities are authorized to prepare blood components, separating whole blood into plasma, platelets, and red cells, conduct advanced immunohematology testing to guarantee compatibility, and provide expanded transfusion services for complex medical cases.

They also play a role in supporting regional blood supply networks, ensuring that hospitals across the Visayas have access to safe and sufficient blood products.

CCMC’s current Level 2 accreditation, granted in August 2022, recognized its expanded facilities, including a 225-bed capacity, a 10-bed Intensive Care Unit, and accredited departments in general surgery, pediatrics, and internal medicine.

This status allows the hospital to manage critical cases such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary conditions, while also offering specialty outpatient services.

The pursuit of HBB++ accreditation builds on this foundation, signaling CCMC’s determination to elevate its services even as construction of its permanent facility continues.

The monitoring visit by the DOH Subnational Blood Center for Visayas accordingly is a crucial step in the accreditation process. The group credited the efforts of medical, laboratory, and support teams whose work ensures compliance with national standards. – MRM (CEBU NEWS)