The blood safety, laboratory and imaging programme of the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean works with governments and health authorities in the Region to ensure that populations have access to safe and affordable blood and blood products.

The programme aims to ensure that blood is transfused only when necessary and is provided as part of a sustainable blood programme within the existing health care system.

It contributes to national health laboratory capacity strengthening, with particular emphasis on norms, standards and national laboratory policy, as well as strengthening the quality of laboratory procedures, and establishing and expanding external quality assessment schemes. Quality assurance in imaging and dosimetry are also assets to the programme in helping to establish legislation in transplantation and surgical care at district level as part of clinical procedures.