Osakidetza targets 20,000 annual plasma donations

Osakidetza, the Basque health service, has set a target to reach 20,000 plasma donations annually. To achieve this, the organization aims to secure a consistent group of 5,000 regular donors who each contribute four times per year.

Currently, the service has approximately 3,000 donors who contribute twice a year. As part of the strategy to increase participation, the Urduliz Hospital has been designated as a plasma donation site. This initiative aims to make the process more accessible to local residents by reducing travel requirements.

Plasma is essential for treating various conditions, including liver diseases, severe burns, and transplant recovery. It is also a critical component in manufacturing medicines such as immunoglobulins and albumin, which are used to treat immunological, neurological, autoimmune, and hemophilia disorders. Osakidetza has stated that all collected plasma is used exclusively for health-related purposes and is never used for commercial gain.