Uy, M. J. G. (2016). Management of HIV positive blood donors, a policy proposal based on the DOH - Bicol Medical Center experience (Unpublished master's thesis). Public Management Development Program, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Public Management and Development Program Senior Executives Class Batch 5 Thesis (SEC)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

The serology findings of transfusion transmissible infections, specifically HIV, among voluntary blood donors poses a problem of notification for health authorities. While there is an urgent need to control the spread of HIV among our population, a small subset of those who need to be immediately informed of their health status are not being notified at the soonest possible time. At the moment, there is no prescribed standard procedure by the Department of Health for patients who are found positive for infectious diseases during routine blood donation. This is a lost opportunity for patients to be diagnosed as soon as possible and be able to commence their treatment. Administrative Order 2010-0028 on Policies and Guidelines in the Conduct of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Counselling and Testing in Community and Health FAcility Settings, clearly restricts notification of HIV positive blood donors. This creates a moral dilemma for health facilities who recognize the obligation to inform patients of their health status and allow them to be enrolled to treatment. The policy options will include three basic choices, the first two of which begins with a phone call to the patient. The first option sends a team of trained personnel to conduct case finding activities and track down patient, informing him about abnormal serology findings and providing counselling and assistance to the patient who shall undergo final confirmatory diagnostic tests. If proven positive for the disease, the patient shall be immediately linked to a treatment facility. The second policy option sends a notification letter after the initial phone call. The patient shall be given two weeks to report to the Blood Service Facility, failing which, a second letter shall be sent informing patient f his HIV findings and the immediate need for a confirmatory diagnostic test. The patient is given total responsibility for his health outcome. The third policy option strengthens the blood donor deferral policy for high risk patients and provides an incentive of free rapid HIV test. This is meant to directly minimize the risk of transfusion transmissible infections (TTI) into the blood pool. A review of these policy options is done through a framework analysis using effectivity, efficiency, acceptability and unintended consequences as basis for evaluation. Option 1, the case finding policy is recommended for its effectiveness and efficiency, and the least unintended consequences. This paper also recommended that a revision/enhancement of existing DOH notification guidelines for HIV positive blood donors be drafted for improved policy implementation.