Volume Two - Academic Conferences

Post-Academic Masters Course in Management of
Transfusion Medicine: Why the Difference in Access to the
eLearning Between Countries?
Cees Th. Smit Sibinga
ID Consulting for International Development of Transfusion Medicine (IDTM),
University of Groningen, The Netherlands
c.sibinga@planet.nl
Abstract: Health care includes supportive services such as laboratory, radiology and blood transfusion. Blood
safety and sustainability of the blood supply is increasingly organized on a WHO advocated nationally supported
principle where regional blood procurement centres supply hospitals. To manage such regional or national blood
supply centres, leadership development is paramount. Since 2004, WHO has initiated a specific post-academic
Masters course focused on management of Transfusion Medicine (MMTM). This MMTM course is largely based
on eLearning (distance learning principle). Approach – Since the eLearning course became operational in 2006
there have been registered two dozens of qualified fellows from a variety of developing countries and a few more
advanced countries. Fellows are provided personal electronic instructions how to access once all criteria
including acceptance of a proper post-academic dissertation proposal have been met. The access codes are
personal and not public and need to be archived during the course to guarantee a continued access over time.
Fellows were followed during the eLearning period and their progress monitored and evaluated. Specific attention
was given to the ease of handling the e-environment and its related e-technicalities. Fundamental are access to
internet, uninterrupted power supply, consistence of use of a computer (PC or laptop) and computer literacy.
Results –Most of the fellows come from developing parts of the world, predominantly sub-Saharan Africa. There
are distinct differences in country infrastructure and e-environment. Although academically qualified (in-country
University diploma’s) a majority is not familiar with e-technology and computer handling other than some internet
exploring and basic office functions like Word and PPT. Accessibility awareness is not really developed. Major
obstacles encountered are – inconsistent internet access due to supplier problems; unreliable power supply due
to poor and incompetent infrastructure; virus contamination of lap tops and PCs due to frequent uncontrolled use
of memory sticks in internet café’s and through friends and relatives; poor and not maintained firewall conditions;
mediocre computer literacy, particularly when skills beyond basic office functions are required; lap top and PC
breakdown due to uncontrolled working conditions and improper working environments; Conclusions – As fellows
are scattered around the world, and live in developing societies with a limited e- and ICT teaching infrastructure,
it would be appropriate to include in the eLearning package an instructive e-module on how to handle and
manage the eLearning tools, how to manage day-to-day problems of access and downloading, as well as reaccess
for e.g. e-exams and access to new modules in the course. Such instructive e-module would contribute to
a better accessibility awareness leading to a more easy and customer friendly e-access.
Keywords: postgraduate masters, eLearning, evaluation
1. Introduction
Globally, blood safety and sustainability of the blood supply is increasingly organized on a WHO [1]
and WHA [2] advocated nationally supported principle where regional blood procurement centres
supply hospitals. The provision of safe and efficacious blood components is a supportive service.
Health care includes such supportive services e.g. laboratory, radiology and blood transfusion. These
supportive services are an essential part of the health care system and need a careful and balanced
integration in the health care system. As they operate in the demand-supply chain, proper and
intellectually well-equipped leadership is needed to adequately manage these services. The
internationally advocated organizational structure is based on the principles of product liability
(procurement of blood – collection, processing and testing, storage and distribution) and consumer
rights protection (rational use of the products produced and supplied by the blood procurement
organization or blood centres).
Despite all international efforts advocated by WHO through a series of WHA resolutions, most parts of
the world the service offered by blood centres is still supply driven. These parts of the world are
characterized by the UN classification of Low and Medium Human Development Index (L-HDI and M-
HDI) and consist of over 60% of the countries where more than 80% of the global population lives and
roughly 20% of the global blood supply is being consumed [3]. In fact the actual clinical needs should
be met in a demand driven way to avoid shortages and logistic problems of supply and allow the
development of rational and appropriate use of supportive haemotherapy.
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