The WHO Regional Office convened a meeting of directors of national blood transfusion services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region from 17 to 19 May 2016 in Casablanca, Morocco.

The objectives of the meeting were:

• to discuss the regional status of blood transfusion services;
• to discuss country successes, challenges and lessons learned in ensuring the safety and availability of blood transfusion;
• to review and agree on the draft regional strategy and framework for action for blood safety and availability. 

Blood transfusion services in the Eastern Mediterranean Region have made progress towards ensuring universal access to safe blood and blood products since the first World Health Assembly resolution in 1975. However, significant gaps remain in providing access to sufficient, affordable and sustainable supplies of blood and blood products, while also ensuring the quality and safety of these products in the presence of known and emerging threats to public health. In order to address these gaps, which were identified through a comprehensive situation analysis, and to guide countries to develop and strengthen national blood systems, the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has developed a 10-year (2016–2025) draft regional strategy and framework for action through broad consultation with national blood transfusion service providers, regional and international organizations and experts working in the field.

Summary report on the Regional meeting of directors of national blood transfusion services, Casablanca, Morocco, 17–19 May 2016