How to become a member

General Members should be from country members of the Council of Europe. Any parties interested in becoming members, from countries not members of the CoE, may become Associate Members.

Eligibility Requirements to become a General Member (GM):

Any non-governmental patients' organisation/associations whose members use blood or its products can apply to become a General Member.

Non-governmental patients' organisations must be registered in their own country, with a certificate of registration, a constitution and a report of activities which should be submitted with their application to become an Alliance member. General Members must also have fulfilled their financial obligations.

All written applications received will be submitted to a subsequent Board meeting and considered in accordance with the membership requirements, as stated in Article 4(b)(ii) of the Constitution. Approval of membership shall be at the discretion of the Board.

A group of associations forming a Federation shall be considered to be one member.

GMs would have the following rights and benefits: - the right to vote (two patient organisations per country, per disease, will be allowed as members of the Alliance, each allowed one representative. This allows the Alliance to include a broader spectrum of representation rather than becoming focussed on one particular condition. If there are more than two groups who wish to join, they should elect a maximum of two representatives.

A GM may appoint up to two representatives for attendance at General Meetings who will be eligible to vote or to be voted.

Each member will be entitled one vote.

Any GM may change its voting representative(s) by application to the Board of Directors.

Eligibility for Associate Membership:

Any individual, commercial industry or professional group related to the field of blood may apply to become an Associate Member.

All formal applications would be submitted to a subsequent Board meeting and considered in accordance with the requirements as stated in Article 4(b)(i) of the Constitution.

Associate Members would have the following rights and benefits: speaking rights but not voting rights regarding issues and business raised by the Board. Companies have additional benefits as detailed in the Sponsorship Contract.

Individual members will have speaking opportunities at international events and articles may be published on the PBSA website and/or Newsletter.

Any person or organisation eligible for either category of membership may apply. The Board of the Alliance requires applicants to undertake the following:

  • a) Submit a completed application form in the prescribed format;
  • b) Arrange payment of a subscription fee for the first year;
  • c) Arrange payment of a registration fee;
  • d) Submit any formal documents required under Article 4(b) of the PBSA Constitution.

    • Any applicant may be invited to attend before the Board if it is necessary to provide fuller details or clarifications in support of their application for membership

    On reaching its decision regarding membership, the Board shall direct the Secretary of the Alliance to enter the name of the applicant(s) on the register of members in the category for which they applied or are eligible for.

    Registration and Annual Subscriptions

    The registration fee will be EURO 100 for all members in either category of membership.

    The annual subscription shall be EURO 150 for General Members (for each voting representative), and EUR €500 for Associate Members.

    All annual subscriptions will be due on or before the 30th January of each calendar year. Periodically, the Board retains the right to adjust the abovementioned fees when and as required.

    Under special circumstances, 'fee waivers' may be considered by the Board for any member who applies in writing. These matters will be considered at sessions in the course of General Meetings of the Board.

    Fuller details of regulations for membership regulations will be issued on application and acceptance of membership.

    How to pay

    Payment should be made either:

    • By Banker's draft, issued by any European or other international bank in (Euros), in favour of the "Pan-European Blood Safety Alliance" and sent to PBSA by registered post or
    • By credit card, with the enclosed payment slip completed, signed and returned to PBSA by fax or post (please note that credit card payments must be quoted (Euros)

    Members receive a free subscription to PBSA Newsletter bi-annually providing news and views from patients, parents, health professionals and health institutions.

    You will also receive regular updates about upcoming Conferences, Workshops and other events organised or supported by the PBSA.

    Members also receive all new PBSA publications, free of charge, as soon as they are released. Past publications can be downloaded free of charge from our website at www.pbsalliance.org.cy.