REDLANDS, Calif., Oct. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- ICCBBA is proud to announce the recipients of its 2024 Enterprise Grant Awards, recognizing three outstanding organizations that are advancing patient safety, blood accessibility, and quality systems through innovative projects in Africa. These grants are awarded to support initiatives that enhance the safety and efficiency of transfusion and transplantation systems for Medical Products of Human Origin (MPHO), particularly in resource-constrained settings.
Grant Recipients:
1. The Safe Blood for Africa Foundation
Awardee: Prof. Claude Tayou Tagny, Country Project Coordinator
Grant Amount: $20,000
Prof. Claude Tayou Tagny and the Safe Blood for Africa Foundation (SBFA) have been at the forefront of strengthening blood transfusion systems in over 20 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. With this grant, SBFA will further develop the blood service at the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital (YUTH) in Cameroon by implementing a blood safety informatics system and enhancing its quality management framework. This initiative aims to prepare the YUTH center for AfSBT accreditation and establish it as a local reference for training and mentorship.
"The ICCBBA grant was provided to the SBFA to install a blood safety informatics system and to start the implementation of a quality management system. It is with enthusiasm and pride that we have observed improvements in the organization of the Yaoundé University Teaching Hospital (YUTH) and the interest shown by the public authorities in it. The new Enterprise Grant will also prepare the capacity-built blood service for the AfSBT accreditation and future high-impact training and quality control programs for other blood services...Thank you ICCBBA for having lasting impact on blood transfusion safety indicators in Africa. " – Prof. Claude Tayou Tagny
2. Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service
Awardee: Dr. Asheanfi Tazebew Amare, Director General
Grant Amount: $38,683.04
The Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service, the primary institution responsible for blood collection, testing, and distribution across Ethiopia, is working to expand the Blood Safety Information System (BSIS) to regional centers. This grant will allow for the training of users and full traceability of all blood collections and transfusions, enhancing patient safety nationwide.
" The ICCBBA Enterprise Grant is an international support to blood safety with concrete effect on the existing system. Through this Grant, the Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service expand its Blood Safety Information System to the regional blood banks providing full traceability of all blood collections and transfusions to enhance patient safety." – Dr. Asheanfi Tazebew Amare
3. Uganda UK Health Alliance
Awardee: Dr. Philip Lugoloobi, Health Innovation Fellow, Africa Oxford Initiative
Grant Amount: $20,000
The Uganda UK Health Alliance (UUKHA) aims to revolutionize blood transfusion services in Uganda through the development of a digital Blood Alarm System. This tool will enhance accountability, traceability, and timely use of blood products, ensuring patient safety and reducing delays in life-saving transfusions.
" We are honored to be among the recipients of the 2024 ICCBBA Enterprise Grant Award, which will enable us to advance our efforts to positively impact Uganda's healthcare landscape. Our digital tool, the Blood Alarm System, is designed to enhance the appropriate use, accountability, and traceability of blood products, thereby improving their safety. It's to also address avoidable delays in blood transfusions, ensuring timely transfusions for patients." – Dr. Philip Lugoloobi
About the ICCBBA Enterprise Grant
ICCBBA is an international non-profit organization that develops, manages, and licenses ISBT 128, the global information standard for the terminology, coding, and labeling of Medical Products of Human Origin (MPHO). Through the Enterprise Grant, ICCBBA supports initiatives aimed at building organizational capacity and improving electronic information management and traceability systems, particularly in resource-constrained settings, to enhance patient safety worldwide.
Grant Objectives:
"Due to the success of our initiatives and responsible management team, ICCBBA has doubled the funds available for the 2024 grants. This increase reflects our continued commitment to enhancing patient safety, allowing us to expand the reach and impact of this year's grant program," noted Eoin McGrath, ICCBBA's Executive Director.
Exciting News for 2025!
The ICCBBA Enterprise Grant will return in Q1 of 2025, offering more organizations the chance to make an impact in the field of transfusion and transplantation safety. If you're working on innovative solutions that enhance patient safety, improve traceability, or advance quality systems, we encourage you to apply. Don't miss out on the opportunity to drive change in healthcare systems—applications will open early next year!
About ICCBBA
ICCBBA is the international standards organization responsible for the management and development of the ISBT 128 Standard.
The acronym ISBT was originally derived from the important role played by the International Society of Blood Transfusion in the development of the Standard. Today it expands as Information Standard for Blood and Transplantation. The number 128 reflects the 128 characters of the ISO/IEC 646 7-bit character set.
The acronym ICCBBA is derived from the International Council for Commonality in Blood Banking Automation. ISBT 128 | ICCBBA
For the latest updates on the ICCBBA Enterprise Grant
ICCBBA Newsletter: https://www.isbt128.org/newsletter
Enterprise Grant Homepage: ISBT 128 | ICCBBA | Grants and Awards
Press Contact and other inquires:
Christina Salinas, Global Development Manager
globaldevelopment@iccbba.org
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
ICCBBA Announces 2024 Enterprise Grant Awardees: Advancing Global Blood Safety
SINGAPORE, Oct. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Management International Pte Ltd ("HMI Medical), a growing regional private healthcare provider with presence in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia, announces a new partnership with its fifth specialist group by acquiring a majority stake in Advanced Urology Associates ("Advanced Urology"), the largest private urology specialist group in Singapore. This partnership will strengthen HMI Medical's specialist service offerings and will be added to its' existing portfolio of specialist groups: Eagle Eye Centre, Eagle Aesthetics and Surgery, Harley Street Heart & Vascular Centre, and The Orthopaedic Practice and Surgery.
To support patients in Singapore in managing their health more proactively and reducing friction in their healthcare journeys, HMI Medical has been growing organically and through strategic mergers and acquisitions. The latest addition of Advanced Urology aligns with HMI Medical's growth strategy in Singapore, which focuses on providing quality and patient-centred healthcare services outside of hospitals that are convenient and delivers value. Urology is a prime example of a specialist discipline where majority of procedures can be carried out safely in an out of hospital setting, via minimally invasive procedures and new technologies.
"We are excited to welcome Advanced Urology to be part of our growing portfolio of specialist services as we seek to enhance urology care against the backdrop of a fast-aging population. With an aligned vision and the collective track record of Dr James Tan, Dr Gerald Tan, Dr Lewis Liew and their team of highly skilled urology specialists, we can continue to spark change for the future of healthcare together", said Chin Wei Jia, Group CEO at HMI Medical.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for men[1] and urinary tract infections are among the top 10 causes of mortality in Singapore[2]. Through this strategic partnership with HMI Medical, Advanced Urology seeks to enhance access to specialist care services covering all sub specialities in urology to patients in Singapore and the region. With the support of HMI Medical's extensive patient care network, Advanced Urology aims to expand its footprint locally and regionally by scaling up their community outreach, doctor recruitment efforts and establishment of new clinics and health facilities.
"We are delighted to have found a purpose-driven, like-minded partner in HMI Medical. With a common commitment to take a patient-centric approach to healthcare, we believe our collective expertise will make a positive impact in our communities as we grow together," said Dr James Tan, Chairman of Advanced Urology. "We are optimistic about the new opportunities to create synergies among HMI Medical's existing health services across the entire continuum of care, to serve our patients better", he added.
Advancing out-of-hospital care by Integrating Specialist Services with Ambulatory Care Centres
Ambulatory surgery, also known as outpatient surgery, has gained global significance in recent years due to the clinical and technological advancements which allow patients to undergo minimally invasive procedures and return home within a day. According to global reports, studies have shown that ambulatory care settings can provide advantages for patients, such as shorter average visit length—25% shorter for ambulatory-care services than comparable hospital outpatient visits[3] as well as reduced risk of hospital infections, faster recovery time, while decreasing health expenses. In Singapore, the annual number of surgeries and procedures performed at day surgery centres have risen from 509,000 in 2019 to 565,000 in 2022[4]. With HMI Medical's day surgery operating theatres and recovery rooms, patients with urology related health needs can undergo minimally invasive surgical procedures and complete their health journey under one roof.
Tardis Capital advised Advanced Urology in this transaction.
About HMI Medical
Headquartered in Singapore, HMI Medical (previously known as HMI Group) is a growing regional private healthcare provider with over 25 years of experience across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. The Group serves over 3 million patients per year through a full suite of digital and physical services including its leading tertiary hospitals in Malaysia. In Singapore, the Group operates 45 primary care and health screening centres, 21 specialist centres, an 11-storey ambulatory care centre, and manages a panel of 1,500 primary and specialist clinics through its medical benefits administrative network. The Group also runs a dedicated training centre - a social enterprise focused on continuous education and community engagement. In Malaysia, it owns 2 leading Medisave-approved tertiary hospitals in Malaysia and an ambulatory care centre, namely Mahkota Medical Centre in Malacca, and Regency Specialist Hospital. The Group recently launched Regency Medical Care Centre, its first ambulatory care centre located in The Mall, Mid Valley SouthKey, 15 minutes from the Singapore Woodlands checkpoint. For more information, please visit: https://www.hmimedical.com/
About Advanced Urology Associates
Founded in 2018, Advanced Urology is the largest group of urology specialists in private practice in Singapore working cohesively to design a comprehensive evidence-based treatment approach for solving complex and challenging urology conditions. Today, Advanced Urology operates 6 centres located in the major private hospitals island wide together with a team of 7 resident urologists, offering a comprehensive range of urology services for Kidney, Bladder, Prostate, Robotics Surgery, Men's and Women's health. Advanced Urology Associates are also specially trained in urological cancer surgery, robotic surgery, complex stone surgery and transplant surgery. Other than complex cancer and robotic surgeries conducted in a hospital setting, they also have dedicated facilities and latest technologies to carry out surgical procedures that are MediSave claimable.
For more information, please visit: https://urology.com.sg/
[1] https://www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg/learn-about-cancer/cancer-basics/common-types-of-cancer-in-singapore.html
[2] https://www.moh.gov.sg/resources-statistics/singapore-health-facts/principal-causes-of-death
[3] https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/the-next-frontier-of-care-delivery-in-healthcare
[4] https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highlights/details/number-of-registered-day-surgery-centres-in-public-and-private-sectors-and-patient-load
** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **
HMI Medical Announces Partnership with Advanced Urology Associates to Expand its Specialist Service Offerings
HMI Medical Announces Partnership with Advanced Urology Associates to Expand its Specialist Service Offerings
