The following is a review of developments affecting health care in Canada

The Centre for Blood Research is due to start operations at the University of British Columbia in 2005. Initially the Centre will study of blood and blood products with the goal to build a to reach donor-free blood system by 2025. The focus of the centre will be on blood proteins found in plasma and on platelets, which are blood components in shortest supply. The scientists will attempt to extend the shelf-life of platelets to seven days and to manufacture artificial albumin—not a protein-based albumin, but a synthetic polymer that would have the same biological function as albumin. About $15 million in startup funding for the centre comes, in part, from the Canadian Foundation of Innovation, Bayer Inc., the B.C. government, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Michael Smith Foundation. (www.cbr.ubc.ca.)

Implementation of Canada's Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act is scheduled to go into force Jan. 1, 2004. However, still undecided are guidelines that health professionals must follow to implement the Act.