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The key decision makers in the Australian blood sector and their primary roles and relationships are set out in the National Blood Agreement and the National Blood Authority Act 2003. The Australian Health Ministers' Conference (AHMC) is ultimately responsible for oversight and management of the sector and sets the governance, policy and financial framework under which the NBA operates.
The Australian Government, and each State and Territory Government, are represented on the Jurisdictional Blood Committee (JBC), established as a subcommittee of the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC) and, in September 2006, as a subcommittee of the Clinical, Technical, Ethical Principal Committee (CTEPC).
The JBC is the lynch-pin between governments and the NBA. It oversees the NBA and represents jurisdictional positions on policy, demand, supply planning, product distribution, funding and evidence-based approaches to emerging products, services and technologies. The JBC is also the primary body responsible for providing advice and support to AHMC (through AHMAC) on these matters.
Ministers determine what funds are available to the NBA for both the purchase of blood and blood products and its operating expenses.
The NBA operates as an Australian Government agency within the Commonwealth legislative framework. The General Manager is accountable to the Minister for Health and Ageing for the performance of the agency and in particular compliance with the Australian Government’s policies and regulations. In addition to the Act, the operations of the NBA are governed by the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and the Public Service Act 1999.
Decision making powers within the National Blood Agreement lie with the NBA, the JBC or AHMC. In general, the NBA makes decisions on the awarding of contracts and new suppliers, and associated supply and contract management issues. These are made within the policy and financial framework agreed by all governments. The JBC, on behalf of governments, defines the policy principles and financial framework for NBA procurements when matters are ‘not material’ (or not materially different from current policies) and within the financial delegations of JBC members. Material decisions are made by AHMC.
Under the National Blood Agreement, States and Territories have primary responsibility for optimising the management and use of blood and blood products once supplied to the health sector. The NBA has a role in supporting and facilitating improvement in this area. Development of specific NBA programs for this purpose has been more recent than in the direct areas of NBA responsibility in contracting and supply management.
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This page last modified on January 20, 2009
