Code of Ethics

Our Responsibilities
Our primary responsibility is to our patients. We seek to optimally use the blood donated by the community for the community. We believe this is best achieved through a total commitment to act in the best interest of all our stakeholders, including the State, our employees, blood donors, patients and business partners. A reputation for integrity, ethical and responsible behaviour, and insistence on quality will underpin all our professional actions and build trust and goodwill.

The following principles guide our dealings with stakeholders:

Governance
We will comply with relevant policies, laws, regulations and guidelines. We are committed to good corporate governance, transparency and fair dealing.

Employees
We regard our employees as a most important asset of SANBS. We treat all employees with respect and consideration, invest in their development and ensure that there is no discrimination or other arbitrary barriers to their advancement. We aim to have a workforce and working environment that fairly reflects the diversity of background, culture, beliefs and characteristics of the communities in which we operate.

Blood Donors
We aim to promote strong relationships with, and enhance the capacities of the communities of which we are a part. This will ensure their support to retain and maintain a viable base of low risk blood donors that will provide sufficient, quality blood to satisfy the needs of all our patients.

Patients
We see mutually beneficial long-term relationships with the Department of Health, health care providers, hospitals and patients. This will be based on fair and ethical practices. We will make available to our patients appropriate, sufficient, affordable, safe blood products and clinical services that meet the highest quality standards.

Business Partners
We seek mutually beneficial long-term relationships, based on fair and ethical practices, with our business partners, contractors and suppliers, and with the communication media. In our business dealings we expect our partners to adhere to business principles compatible with our own.

Communities
We strive to be a trusted corporate citizen and are committed to assist with the social and educational development of the communities we serve. SANBS will co-operate with governments and other organisations, both directly and through bodies such as the World Health Organisation and Southern African Development Community, to develop the discipline of blood transfusion in our neighbouring countries.

Principles of Conduct
This Code applies to SANBS, its Board of Directors, management and employees at all
levels. It is the responsibility of the Board and management of SANBS to ensure that the principles embodied in this Code are communicated to, understood and observed by all employees. We encourage employees to take personal responsibility for ensuring that our conduct complies with these principles. No employee shall suffer as a consequence of reporting to management any breach of the Code of Ethics.

Business Integrity and Ethics
We support a not-for-gain association, based on fee for service, as the system best able to provide a viable and sustainable blood transfusion service to the community. It is only possible to fulfill our responsibilities to our stakeholders if the organisation has a sound financial foundation. However, our operations are not commercially based, but rather take into account medical and social criteria.

We conduct our operations with honesty, integrity and openness, and with respect for the human rights and interest of our employees. We shall similarly respect the legitimate interest of ours stakeholders.

We will comply with all laws and regulations when conducting business for or on behalf of SANBS.

We are totally opposed to corruption. SANBS and its employees will not offer or accept, whether directly or indirectly, bribes or any other improper advantages for business, financial or personal gain.

SANBS employees will perform all their duties conscientiously, honestly and transparently and will avoid actual or potential conflicts of interest with their employer.

SANBS will maintain high standards of planning and control to identify and monitor material risks, safeguard our assets, and to detect and prevent fraud. SANBS accounting records and supporting records will accurately describe and reflect the nature of the underlying transactions. The accounting records will be in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice. No undisclosed or unrecorded accounts, funds or assets will be established or maintained.

Information gained in the course of business will be safeguarded and its confidentiality respected.

Any SANBS director or employee who does not conform to the Code of Conduct, will be disciplined in accordance with the SANBS Disciplinary Code. Should the breach include a criminal act, it is policy to pursue prosecution of the individual concerned.

We will apply our principles to those with whom we do business. We prefer to enter and remain in business relationships with organisations that subscribe to an acceptable Code of Conduct.

Corporate Citizenship
SANBS recognises its obligations to its employees and communities and, therefore, strives in its operations to conform to the letter and spirit of environmental, health and safety laws. SANBS also seeks to contribute to the quality of life of its employees and to the social and educational well being of the communities served by the organisation.

SANBS respects the values and cultures of the communities in which we operate. In upholding this principle, all matters will be handled in the spirit of respect, trust and openness.

Patients and Blood Donors
SANBS respects human dignity and the rights of its patients and blood donors. In all decisions and actions, when dealing with patients and blood donors, SANBS directors, managers and employees must be guided by four equally important principles:

• The principle of autonomy, the respect for a person:
  The acceptance of the free will, autonomy, dignity and privacy of the individual.
• The principle of beneficence:
  We will strive to do good to or for a person or community.
• The principle of non-maleficence:
  We will strive to not harm a person.
• The principle of justice:
  We will be fair and treat all patients and blood donors honestly and equitably.

By adopting these principles, SANBS will eliminate conflict resulting from different moral, political and religious cultures. We encourage self-inspection and group discussion at every level of the organisation, particularly if work-related issues or actions might appear less than ethically sound.

Employment and Labour Rights
SANBS is committed to establishing a working environment in which there is mutual trust and respect and where everyone feels responsible for the performance and reputation of the organisation.

SANBS is committed to the adoption of and adherence to fair labour practices in the workplace.

SANBS will promote workplace equality and will seek to eliminate all forms of unfair discrimination.

We understand and respect the wide range of human diversity in which we operate and all human resource practices must be inclusive, irrespective of (among others) nationality, gender, race and physical disabilities.

We recognise the right of our employees to freedom of association. SANBS recognises that organised labour and collective bargaining form a normal part of labour / management relations. Appropriate employee participation in problem solving and decision-making is encouraged.

SANBS will provide employees with the opportunities to enhance their skills and capabilities, enabling them to develop fulfilling careers and make a meaningful contribution to the organisation.

Safety, Health and Environment
SANBS recognises that productivity is directly related to the health, safety and welfare of its employees.

The organisation promotes continual improvement in health and safety performance through the active involvement of employees and compliance with health and safety legislation and industry standards.

We recognise the human tragedy caused by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, particularly in South Africa and its neighbouring countries. We have a policy for addressing HIV/AIDS in the workplace and are committed to a prevention strategy. We strive to eliminate any stigma or unfair discrimination on the basis of real or perceived HIV status.