Our Role

Blood and blood related products play a key role in the treatment and management of a range of clinical conditions. Many life and death situations rely on blood and blood related products. Without these products, there would be increased patient mortality and reduced clinical outcomes for many patients. Clinicians and hospitals rely on the products on a daily basis to treat and manage patients.

The NBA’s job is to ensure that product required by clinicians is available within a cost-effective framework and that product use is optimised.

The National Blood Agreement articulates the primary policy of the Australian blood sector, being:

To provide an adequate, safe, secure and affordable supply of blood products, blood related products and blood related services in Australia
To promote safe, high quality management and use of blood products, blood related products and blood related services in Australia

The National Blood Authority Act 2003 and the National Blood Agreement outline the role of the NBA. This role includes:

coordinating national demand and supply planning on blood and blood-related products and purchasing those products on behalf of all Australian governments
negotiating and managing contracts with suppliers of blood and blood-related products to enable the development of sufficient and value-for-money supply and an agreed single national pricing schedule
implementing an efficient demand-driven system based on evidence and good clinical practice so that the blood supply system is highly responsive to needs
working in a collaborative manner with all governments and other relevant parties to ensure that Australia’s blood supply is adequate, safe, secure and affordable
national contingency planning
promoting adherence to national safety and quality standards
developing and implementing national strategies to encourage better use of blood and blood products

The roles, goals and strategies guiding the activities of the NBA are set out in the NBA Corporate Plan 2006-2009 (1.42MB). The Plan was developed in consultation with stakeholders including clinicians, suppliers and the State, Territory and Australian governments and subsequently endorsed by all Australian governments through the Australian Health Minister’s Conference.

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