Grands prix québécois de la qualité - Héma-Québec amongst the best-performing
organizations in Québec

MONTREAL , Nov. 12 /CNW Telbec/ - During a ceremony held today at Montréal's Palais des congrès, Mr. Clément Gignac, Minister of Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation, presented Héma-Québec president and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Francine Décary, with a Grande Mention as part of the 2009 Grands Prix québécois de la qualité.

The Grands Prix québécois de la qualité, awarded every year by the Québec Premier to the most successful private companies and public organizations, are with stringent criteria comparable to internationally renowned prizes (Deming ( Japan ), Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (USA) or the European Quality Award). These awards encourage and recognize organizations that apply best management practices to all aspects of their activities and achieve outstanding results.

"This distinction caps eleven years of daily effort to provide a safe, sufficient supply of our products in order to meet the substantial needs of Québec hospitals and their patients. I am proud that our rigorous management efforts, our pursuit of excellence and our determination to be a leader have earned us the most prestigious recognition awarded to Québec companies," said Dr. Décary.

Héma-Québec's mission is to efficiently provide sufficient amounts of safe, high-quality blood components, blood substitutes and human tissues to meet the needs of all Quebeckers, and to develop and provide expertise and services, along with specialized innovative services products in the fields of transfusion medicine and human tissue transplantation.

"I especially want to emphasize that this award is a result of the tireless commitment of my close collaborators, the dedication of thousands of donors and volunteers and the excellent work of our 1,300 employees," explained Dr. Décary.

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For further information: Laurent Paul Ménard, External Communications Director, HEMA-QUEBEC, Media Line: [phone], [email protected]; www.hema-quebec.qc.ca