Development and maintenance of hemophilia programs in developing countries.

A hemophilia care program should be able to provide comprehensive medical care to the person with hemophilia and fundamental to the provision of such care is the ability to provide adequate hemostatic support to the hemophilic person with his congenital hemorrhagic diathesis. Development of such a program depends on the presence and commitment of key medical and paramedical personnel and on the recognition of the fact that hemophilia exists in a particular country or community. Support programs ultimately require government assistance for provision of diagnostic facilities and most importantly for a blood transfusion service where production of blood and preparation of blood components for therapy can be undertaken. To maintain a hemophilia care program there should be viability and education of staff and an undertaking by governments for the provision of an on-going infrastructural financial support. As patients mature, new problems will arise, some of which may be a direct complication of hemophilia. Involved medical staff require support and continuing education to continue to provide essential support to the people with hemophilia. Finally, it must be stressed that hemophilia care does not stand alone but must be incorporated into the network of provision of health care based on an efficient and viable blood transfusion service.