Criminology Research Council grant ; (37/91)
This study identified a number of problem areas with respect to blood products for human use in Australia. These problems included a lack of a clear policy on human blood, a lack of clarity concerning legal powers for securing compliance with the Therapeutic Goods Administration, a lack of information with the potential to assist the regulatory process for blood products, inadequate scrutiny and regulation of blood products, inadequate control over blood products moving in and out of Australia, ineffective regulation of foreign blood products imported into Australia, and a range of other problems relating to the regulation of supply, demand, usage and patient consent.
Notwithstanding a number of regulatory changes to the supply of blood products which occurred while the research was in progress, the researchers were able to make a range of recommendations of improvements. These canvassed changes in policy formulation, increased consultation and information-sharing between the relevant agencies, clearer allocation of agency responsibilities, adequate enforcement of licensing requirements, uniform tests by blood collection centres, and other improved accountability measures.