Mandaluyong, 15 May 2023 – The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) joined hands in a three-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last May 14 to augment the availability of safe blood supply in the country. 

PRC Chairman and CEO Richard “Dick” Gordon, PRC Secretary-General, Dr. Gwen Pang, and Assistant Secretary General for Programs Development & Services Dr. Christie Monina M. Nalupta signed the MOA with CSMC President and CEO Raul Pagdanganan, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Antonio Say, and  Senior Vice President and Chief Finance Officer Ms. Marivic S. Mabuti. Several members of PRC’s Board of Governors also showed their support for the partnership.

Under the agreement, the PRC will serve as the blood products provider of CSMC, while CSMC will be responsible for distributing it to Filipinos in need. Chairman Gordon described the partnership as a “gamechanger” and a crucial step toward ensuring continuity and sustainability in hospital blood supplies. 

“We are elated to have this partnership with one of the biggest hospitals in the country.  You will treat people while we will look for blood and bring it to you when you need it. Through this partnership, I can assure you that you will always have adequate blood supply in your hospital,” said Chairman Gordon. 

The Chairman also urged other hospitals to follow suit: “We can supply blood in every corner of the country because we have blood banks nationwide.  If every hospital will follow this, then people needing blood don’t have to fret while looking for blood.”

In addition to ensuring an adequate blood supply, the agreement also stated that in the event that hospitals become overwhelmed or there are not enough beds for patients during emergencies, disasters, and mass casualty incidents,  the PRC will build Emergency Field Hospitals (EFH) and CSMC’s member-doctors will be ready to provide emergency medical duties to PRC’s EFH.  

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