Draft bill 92.

Summary.

The draft bill seeks to promote regular and safe donation of blood, platelets, and other blood components in the Republic of Panama (república de panamá). It provides that donation be voluntary, altruistic, free of charge, and nondiscriminatory, as well as safe for both donors and recipients. On that basis, it sets out individual incentives and institutional measures intended to encourage regular participation in blood donation activities.

Anyone who completes a donation would be entitled to one (1) paid day off if the donation takes place on a working day, and to an official donor certificate. Donors would also receive priority attention in national preventive health campaigns organized by the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud). The text provides for recognition as a Frequent Donor upon reaching 3 blood donations per year or 12 platelet donations per year. It also creates the Bronze Donor, Silver Donor, Gold Donor, and Platinum Donor categories. The Ministry of Health would regulate the requirements for each category.

Companies that hold periodic donation drives could receive the State's official Company in Solidarity with Life recognition. Public and private universities would be required to organize at least two blood donation drives each year. The Ministry of Health would conduct ongoing campaigns through traditional and digital media to encourage voluntary donation. These provisions connect recognition to donation activities undertaken by individuals and companies, while assigning universities a recurring duty to organize blood donation drives.

The draft bill creates the National Registry of Voluntary Blood and Platelet Donors, administered by the Ministry of Health in accordance with personal data protection rules. It also directs the Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund (Caja de Seguro Social) to implement mobile donation units that would visit companies, universities, and public institutions. Every June 14, World Blood Donor Day, the State would publicly recognize donors and organizations that have made the greatest contributions. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would issue regulations for the proposed law within six months following its promulgation.

The provisions involve the Ministry of Health and the Social Security Fund in promoting donation, administering donor information, and providing mobile donation services; the Executive Branch in issuing regulations; and the State in granting public recognition. They could interest or affect donors and recipients of blood, platelets, and other blood components; companies that organize donation drives; public and private universities; public institutions visited by mobile units; and organizations contributing to blood donation in the Republic of Panama.