U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare, National Blood Policy Records

In March 1972 President Richard Nixon called for an "intensive study" and requested a plan for developing a "safe, fast, and efficient nationwide blood collection and distribution system." Nixon's request was the result of several independent events and initiatives throughout the late 1960s that focused on the U.S. lack of an efficient system for maintaining a sufficiently ample, risk-free national blood supply.

American blood supplies depended heavily on "commercial" blood, that is, blood acquired by private blood banks that paid its donors. The result was a large instance of hepatitis in patients receiving blood transfusions (there was no screening test for hepatitis at this time), significant national blood supply shortages, an inefficient distribution system, and extremely high charges for blood for hospital patients. Scientists had long recognized the problems in the ad hoc, commercial-volunteer system of supplying and regulating the nation's blood supply.

The Policy outlined 10 principle goals: (1) need for an adequate blood supply for treatment and diagnostic needs, (2) attain the highest standards of blood transfusion therapy and research; (3) universal access to national blood supply for anyone in need, regardless of economic status; (4) efficient collection, processing, storage and utilization of blood supply; (5) assure ample donation; (6) support educational programs to assure most appropriate and safe use of the supply; (7) employ full regulatory authority and seek additional authority to assure adherence to highest standards of blood banking; (8) support research in the full spectrum of blood banking and therapy activities; (9) include benefit in health care insurance programs to assure universal access to blood and blood products to anyone in need; (10) made DHEW responsible for implementation of the policy. The primary aim of the policy was to eliminate the nation's dependence on an oft-contaminated blood supply, with its associated public health problems, by developing an all-volunteer donation system, and thus improving the quality of the supply of blood and development of an appropriate ethical climate for increasing the use of human tissues for therapeutic medical purposes.

Brief Chronology

• 1967 The National Blood Resource Education Program was established at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NIH).
• 1970 National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council's "An evaluation of the utilization of human blood resources in the United States" calls for major reforms.
• 1971 NBRP, NHLI and Booz, Allen, Hamilton contract for a study to collect data and report extensively on blood services in the U.S.
• Fall 1971 NBC television documentary highlights numerous deficiencies in blood services, including periodic blood shortages, blood purchases from indigents and unhealthy populations, wastage of blood collected, and excessive hepatitis occurance.
• Jan. 1972 DHEW Secretary Elliott Richardson calls for formation of an intra-Departmental Task Force to create a national blood policy.
• March 1972 Nixon calls for HEW to develop a national plan for collecting and distributing blood.
• Sep./Oct. 1972 Booz, Allen, Hamilton report published documenting many problems with organization and practice in blood services
• Dec. 1972 Draft National Blood Policy prepared.
• July 1973 DHEW Secretary Caspar Weinberger announces National Blood Policy and issues call for public and private sectors to develop implementation schemes.
• Sep. 1974 DHEW publishes in the Federal Register its evaluation and comments on the implementation plan. Important was the creation of the private sector American Blood Commission to provide a single locus for blood services accountability within the private sector.

1967

The National Blood Resource Education Program was established at the National Heart and Lung Institute (NIH).

1970

National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council's "An evaluation of the utilization of human blood resources in the United States" calls for major reforms.

1971

NBRP, NHLI and Booz, Allen, Hamilton contract for a study to collect data and report extensively on blood services in the U.S.

Fall 1971

NBC television documentary highlights numerous deficiencies in blood services, including periodic blood shortages, blood purchases from indigents and unhealthy populations, wastage of blood collected, and excessive hepatitis occurance.

Jan. 1972

DHEW Secretary Elliott Richardson calls for formation of an intra-Departmental Task Force to create a national blood policy.

March 1972

Nixon calls for HEW to develop a national plan for collecting and distributing blood.

Sep./Oct. 1972

Booz, Allen, Hamilton report published documenting many problems with organization and practice in blood services

Dec. 1972

Draft National Blood Policy prepared.

July 1973

DHEW Secretary Caspar Weinberger announces National Blood Policy and issues call for public and private sectors to develop implementation schemes.

Sep. 1974

DHEW publishes in the Federal Register its evaluation and comments on the implementation plan. Important was the creation of the private sector American Blood Commission to provide a single locus for blood services accountability within the private sector.