Category: Events & News

In a continued effort to strengthen the quality and coordination of Sri Lanka’s transfusion services, the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), through its Education, Training, and Research Unit (ETRU), hosted a regional Continuing Medical Education (CME) workshop on 30th May 2025 at the Teaching Hospital Polonnaruwa. This impactful event brought together blood donation teams from three key clusters—Polonnaruwa, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa. The workshop served as a dynamic forum to enhance knowledge and reinforce core principles of safe blood collection, donor care, and ethical campaign management, while also fostering cross-district collaboration and unity among provincial teams.Cluster representation included:Polonnaruwa Cluster: Polonnaruwa and Medirigiriya Blood BanksTrincomalee Cluster: Trincomalee, Kanthale, Kinya, and Muthur Blood BanksBatticaloa Cluster: Batticaloa, Valachenai, Kattankudy, and Kalawanchikudy Blood Banks The program focused on core clinical competencies as well as leadership…

Kegalle Hosts CME Program Advancing Blood Donation Team Excellence in Kegalle and Peradeniya ClustersHeld at Teaching Hospital Kegalle | 23rd May 2025 In pursuit of excellence in transfusion services, the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) conducted a Continuing Medical Education (CME) program on 23rd May 2025 at the Teaching Hospital Kegalle, focusing on strengthening the capabilities of blood donation teams from both the Kegalle and Peradeniya Clusters. Organized under the direction of the Education, Training, and Research Unit (ETRU), the session—brought together key personnel from the Kegalle Cluster—comprising Kegalle, Mawanella, and Warakapola blood banks—as well as from the Peradeniya Cluster, representing Peradeniya, Gampola, and Nawalapitiya blood banks, The event provided a valuable platform for enhancing operational knowledge, safety protocols, and team coordination. This program is a testament to NBTS’s vision…

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), through its Education, Training, and Research Unit (ETRU), held a special dual Continuing Medical Education (CME) program on 19th May 2025 at the National Blood Center (NBC), Colombo. This initiative brought together blood donation teams from three key regional clusters – Kalutara, Ragama and Gampaha  – for a day of learning, collaboration, and performance enhancement. The sessions focused on sharpening operational knowledge, donor care strategies, and transfusion safety protocols, in line with the NBTS’s mission to maintain high standards in blood collection and transfusion practices nationwide.The Ragama Cluster saw participation from blood banks affiliated with Colombo North Teaching Hospital (CNTH), Negombo, Welisara, and Kiribathgoda, while the Kalutara Cluster included teams from Kalutara, Kethumathi, Panadura, and Horana. The Gampaha, cluster included blood bank staff from…

Rathnapura Hosts CME Program to Strengthen Blood Donation Teams Across the ClusterHeld at Teaching Hospital Rathnapura | 16th May 2025As part of its ongoing commitment to excellence in transfusion services, the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) successfully conducted a Continuing Medical Education (CME) program on 16th May 2025 at the Teaching Hospital Rathnapura. The session was designed to enhance the competencies of blood donation teams within the Rathnapura Cluster. Organized by the Education, Training, and Research Unit (ETRU) of NBTS, the program brought together healthcare professionals from the blood banks of Teaching Hospital Rathnapura, Embilipitiya, Balangoda, and Kahawatta. It served as a vital platform for reviewing best practices, exchanging knowledge, and strengthening inter-institutional collaboration. This initiative is part of NBTS’s broader strategic vision to build a resilient, quality-focused blood service…

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) successfully conducted a one-hour online webinar on Quality Management Systems (QMS), led by Dr. Namal Bandara. Delivered bilingually in both Sinhala and English, the session aimed to build foundational knowledge on QMS practices among blood bank staff as part of NBTS’s long-term strategy to achieve Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) accreditation.A total of 185 participants joined the session, representing a diverse cross-section of healthcare professionals: Clinical Transfusion Practitioners (11), Medical Officers (109), Nursing Officers (39), Medical Laboratory Technologists (22), Junior Staff (3), and a Public Health Inspector (1).The webinar provided an overview of the essential components of a QMS specifically tailored for blood bank operations. Dr. Bandara highlighted the importance of implementing QMS to ensure the safety, reliability, and quality of blood and blood products.…

The Education, Training, and Research Unit (ETRU) of the National Blood Center successfully conducted a Continuous Medical Education (CME) program titled "Capacity Building for Blood Donation Teams – Safe Blood Practices in Transfusion Service" for the Matara and Hambantota clusters on April 25, 2025.Held at the National Blood Center Auditorium, the program brought together medical professionals and experts to strengthen the skills and knowledge of blood donation teams.This program was a vital step toward enhancing safe blood collection practices and promoting excellence in blood donation services across the region.

The National Blood Centre (NBC) remains committed to fostering workplace well-being through its ongoing Mindfulness Program, conducted monthly under the patronage of Ven. Matara Wimalabuddhi Thero. This initiative aims to cultivate mindfulness among blood bank professionals, enhancing focus, accuracy, and efficiency in their daily responsibilities.The 16th session of the program was successfully held on March 24, 2025, drawing enthusiastic participation from staff representing the Colombo, Maharagama, Ragama, and Gampaha Cluster Blood Banks. The session featured a special lecture by Dr. Randula Samarasinghe (Consultant Physician – Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital), who provided valuable insights into the medical aspects of mindfulness, including its impact on health and stress management. Additionally, Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe, Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service, delivered a lecture on the role of mindfulness in daily life, emphasizing its benefits for emotional resilience, well-being, and overall quality of life. Benefits…

The National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS) successfully conducted the Workshop on Health Information Systems & Distribution of IT Hardware on March 07, 2025, at the National Blood Centre, Narahenpita. The event saw the participation of over 200 healthcare professionals, including Consultant Transfusion Physicians (CTPs), Medical Officers In Charge (MOICs), and Nursing Officers In Charge (NOICs) from blood banks across the country. Key Highlights of the Workshop Comprehensive Review of Information SystemsThe workshop began with a detailed review of NBTS information systems, including BBMS, Haemovigilance, Statistics, Swastha, and Praana (SLSCDR). Evaluated system performance at the cluster and blood bank levels, identifying key implementation challenges such as: Lack of IT hardware Connectivity issues Shortage of trained staff Need for further training Additionally, the best-performing Blood Banks were recognized and appreciated for their outstanding…

An insightful educational session on Sensitivity and Specificity was conducted on 11 February 2025, aimed at enhancing the diagnostic understanding and technical proficiency of Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) and Medical Officers. The session focused on the critical role these concepts play in ensuring accuracy and effectiveness in blood transfusion practices.We were honoured to have Mr. Kazem M. ElJarkas, EMEAP Transfusion Application Specialist, as the special invitee and keynote speaker. His in-depth expertise and practical insights into the application of Abbott systems added immense value to the session. Participants gained a deeper understanding of test performance metrics and how the correct application of sensitivity and specificity principles directly impacts patient safety and clinical outcomes.This initiative reflects our continued commitment to upskilling healthcare professionals and strengthening transfusion practices through education and advanced…