Transposing the E. E. U. Blood Directive into national law. Perspective of Slovenia.

Transposing the Directive (2002/98/CE) into the national legislation of EU Member States represents the basis for an equal minimal safe blood transfusion and a demanding job for each of these countries. In order to do this Slovenia will need to somewhat change and supplement the legislation adopted in 2000. In Slovenia, the introduction of the quality assurance system brought on the need for changes in the field of transfusion medicine some years ago. The Directive (2002/98/CE) above all signifies obligatory supplements in the field of organization of the transfusion services and especially organization on a national level. In the field of blood donations the development of the profession itself dictates changes. If and when the Directive (2002/98/CE) refers to clinical work, it will be easier to assert the demands for a more rational use of blood, its traceability and follow-ups of adverse events of a blood transfusion. An obligation to take into account the demands and standards of the Directive (2002/98/CE) will accelerate the fulfillment of numerous tasks which we have set for ourselves in the past in order to increase the safety of blood transfusion.