ABU DHABI, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will establish a unified blood transfusion center within five years to meet a possible surge in demand in case of a crisis, local newspaper Gulf News reported on Wednesday.

    Health officials of GCC countries will meet next February in Riyadh to develop a strategic plan for the proposed unified blood transfusion center, including the protocol for blood safety, the equipment to be used in blood transfusions and the necessary laboratory tests in screening blood, said the report.

    "All Gulf countries have enough stock in their blood banks, but it is important to have an agreement between them so that we can be prepared to meet any unexpected rise in demand for blood in case of a crisis," Nasser Khalifa Al Budoor, member of the Executive Board of Health Minister's Council for GCC, was quoted as saying.

    GCC will introduce a unified cooperative strategy to support the safety of blood transfusion in the bloc's six member countries, said Ameen Al Amiri, assistant undersecretary of the Ministry of Health of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

    Introducing efficient equipment for screening blood is vital for the proposed unified blood transfusion center, Al Amiri said, adding "there are a few countries that focus on the quantity of blood instead of its quality. This type of negligence creates a danger and should be stopped."

    GCC, a regional political and economic alliance, was established in 1981 and groups Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, the UAE and Qatar.