HÉMA-QUÉBEC's Montréal facility passes annual inspection

Montréal, January 11, 2002 - HÉMA-QUÉBEC has once again passed its annual inspection. Inspectors from the Blood Establishment Regulation Division (BERD) - a branch of Health Canada - maintained HÉMA-QUÉBEC's operating licence following the yearly procedural audit, which took place at the Montréal facility between December 6 and 14, 2001.

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

"We are very pleased with this recognition of our work. The results of the audit confirm that, as Québec's blood supplier, HÉMA-QUÉBEC has made safety its top priority by putting the well being of patients first. This is a fitting way to thank the public for the trust they place in us every day," explains Dr. Francine Décary, Executive Director of HÉMA-QUÉBEC.

The inspectors made only a few minor observations concerning product safety. Corrective measures have already been, or soon will be, implemented. These observations deal primarily with improving compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices.

HÉMA-QUÉBEC's mission is to provide Quebeckers with sufficient quantities of safe, top-quality blood components, derivatives and blood substitutes to meet the needs of hospitals, and to provide recognized expertise and specialized services in the field of immunohematology. Each year, HÉMA-QUÉBEC holds more than 2,000 blood clinics throughout the province and supplies 337,000 units of blood components required by hospitals to treat patients. To meet the needs of hospitals, HÉMA-QUÉBEC holds blood clinics for 280,000 donors and counts on the help of more than 25,000 volunteers.

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For the list of the observations made by the Blood Establishment Regulation Division and HÉMA-QUÉBEC's response.