Looks forward to working with new agency heads to modernize regulations and ensure the availability of safe blood products
Washington, DC – America’s Blood Centers (ABC), the national organization of community-based, independent blood centers that supply 60 percent of the nation’s blood supply, today released this statement following the United States Senate’s confirmation of Dr. Marty Makary to run the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Dr. Jay Bhattacharya to lead the National Institutes of Health (NIH). To maintain the highest degree of safety, all U.S. blood centers are regulated by the FDA, while cutting-edge NIH research, particularly through the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and its Division of Blood Diseases and Resources, is crucial for ensuring a safe blood supply and developing breakthroughs that millions of patients rely on.
“America’s Blood Centers congratulates Dr. Marty Makary on his confirmation as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration. Our nation’s blood supply is a cornerstone of our healthcare system, relied on by millions of Americans every year. We look forward to working with Dr. Makary to not only maintain the safety and availability of the blood supply but also to modernize regulations that impede blood centers’ ability to collect and distribute this vital resource.
We also congratulate Dr. Jay Bhattacharya on his confirmation as Director of the National Institutes of Health. The institutes’ groundbreaking research and support are instrumental in safeguarding the blood supply and developing breakthroughs that benefit countless patients nationwide”
ABC continues to advocate for public policy that promotes the value of blood to patients, communities, and the healthcare system as part of its 2025 Advocacy Agenda. This includes cutting red tape to support the safety and availability of the blood supply, modernizing the licensure process to allow blood centers to open quickly and safely meet the demands for blood, improving patient access to blood transfusions on ambulances, strengthening the cyber resilience of the blood community, and more.
Founded in 1962, America’s Blood Centers (ABC) is the national organization bringing together community-based, independent blood centers across North America. These organizations operate in more than 1,100 communities and provide close to 60 percent of the U.S. and a quarter of the Canadian blood supply. ABC member organizations serve more than 150 million people and provide blood products and services to more than 3,500 hospitals and healthcare facilities. All ABC U.S. members are 501(c)(3) organizations licensed and regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or Health Canada. For more information, visit www.AmericasBlood.org.
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