The only analysis performed and reported on from this surveillance system concerned the development of inhibitors [7]. The problem with this national system is that the introduction of national contracting has meant that all patients will

be exposed to only a very limited number of concentrates and the value of the surveillance will thus be limited. The only other European country with a central AERS is the Netherlands, but no data from this system have been formally reported. No central haemophilia AERS is available in the other European Countries. Recently, a European AERS called European Haemophilia Surveillance System (EUHASS) has been learn more initiated. European Haemophilia Surveillance System is a prospective

this website adverse and serious event reporting system. A total of 56 haemophilia centres caring for 18 000 patients with inherited bleeding disorders in 27 European countries are taking part. The system is electronic, in English, and events are reported live as they occur or 3 monthly at the latest. The reported events are allergic/acute reactions, transfusion transmitted infections, inhibitors, thromboses, malignancies and deaths. As centres report data on the exposed population, incident rates can be calculated. In the first year of surveillance, 167 events have been reported. A total of 56 different clotting factor concentrates were used in the participating centres. EUHASS has the potential to find more provide pharmacovigilance information on large numbers of exposed persons with inherited bleeding

disorders. As this is a dynamic cohort, a new method has been developed to calculate the inhibitor risk in patients with <50 exposures. Further information on EUHASS can be found at the project website http://www.euhass.org. Mark Weinstein The World Health Organization (WHO) is interested in developing a global haemovigilance network. In December 2007, the WHO Global Collaboration for Blood Safety (GCBS) met and agreed on the need to support such a network. A global consortium consisting of WHO, Canada, International Society of Blood Transfusion, European Haemovigilance Network and the USPHS agreed to form a multilateral steering committee to support collaborative efforts and develop a work plan. The Global Steering Committee for Haemovigilance (GloSCH) will: ‘provide an ongoing, international forum to develop and promote global haemovigilance; function as a forum for dialogue, advice and information gathering; promote standardized global haemovigilance reporting tools and determine whether these tools are useful and relevant; and share information concerning haemovigilance data among member organizations.’ The GloSCH is currently working on two documents: ‘Development of WHO Recommendations on Establishment of National Haemovigilance Systems’; and a technical and/or guidance document to support standardization of haemovigilance reporting.