Héma-Québec's Montréal facilities pass annual inspection

Montréal, December 16, 2005 - Héma-Québec has passed annual inspection of its Montréal facilities. Consequently, inspectors of Health Canada maintained its establishment licence. The yearly procedural audit took place between October 24 and November 4, 2005.

Throughout the audit of the Montréal facilities, the Health Canada inspectors noted that the safety of blood components is a priority for all Héma-Québec personnel. Health Canada inspects each facility of Héma-Québec once a year to ensure compliance with safety measures and with the requirements stipulated in its establishment licence.

"Maintaining the establishment licence ensures that Héma-Québec complies with the safety measures required by Health Canada and demonstrates that Québec’s population and hospital patients have reason to trust Héma-Québec, our personnel, and the safety of the blood products supply" explains Dr. Francine Décary, Chief Executive Officer of Héma-Québec.

The inspectors made observations that had minor impact on product safety. Corrective measures have already been, or will soon be, implemented. These observations deal primarily with punctual events or with improving compliance with standard operating procedures.

Since its creation in September 1998, Héma-Québec has welcomed more than 2,100,000 donors at 14,000 blood drives organized in collaboration with its community partners across Québec. On average, Héma-Québec delivers each year some 400,000 blood products to hospitals to meet patients’ needs.

Héma-Québec’s mission is to efficiently provide adequate quantities of safe, optimal blood components, substitutes, human tissues and cord blood to meet the needs of all Quebecers; and to provide and develop expertise and services, along with specialized and innovative products, in the fields of transfusion medicine and human tissue transplantation.

  Observations and responses - Montréal

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