[REVISION HISTORY]

Italy blood shortages persist amid regional donation shifts

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2026-09-24 05:24 UTC → 2026-10-06 17:50 UTC · added ~~removed~~

By mid-September 2026, Italy’s healthcare system continued to manage blood and plasma shortages following a summer decline. While the National Blood Center reported that national collections fell by 0.5% in June and 1.1% in July compared to the previous year, some regional successes have emerged. In Sicily, the shortage remains a critical concern. The Policlinico Rodolico Transfusion Service in Catania issued urgent appeals for blood donations, noting that the scarcity impacts essential treatments for oncology, thalassemia, and surgical patients, with a high demand for O Rh positive blood. To bolster supply, the Asp in Siracusa is expanding plasma collection capabilities by deploying new automated plasmaferesis equipment across ten locations. This technological upgrade aims to increase efficiency and support the production of medicines like albumin and immunoglobulins, following the agency’s achievement of the national target of 18 kilograms of plasma per 1,000 inhabitants. Contrasting the national trend, the province of Ragusa in Sicily recorded record-high donation numbers. ~~By late September, various community-led~~ Community-led initiatives have emerged to replenish stocks. In the Teramo region, Fidas Nazionale and Fidas Teramo organized the ‘Metti in moto il dono’ event, featuring outdoor activities to raise awareness. In Liguria, the Como Women football team visited the Fidas Imperia collection unit continued to ~~sensitize the public. Further efforts are scheduled for~~ address regional supply needs. On September 25, ~~including ‘AperiAvis’ in~~ AVIS Bitonto hosted ‘AperiAvis’ to engage new ~~citizens,~~ citizens through music and dialogue, while the ‘Insieme per il Sociale’ mobile collection day took place in the Lamezia Terme industrial ~~area. The latter follows~~ area following an appeal from the ~~Director of the~~ Regional Blood Center director. By early October, concerns regarding the plasma-derived medicine sector emerged. Francesco Carugi, president of Farmindustria's Emoderivati Group, noted that while approximately 80% of plasma collected through the national self-sufficiency system is used for fractionation to ~~replenish regional stocks after~~ produce essential biological drugs, current domestic collection levels remain insufficient to meet total national demand. To ensure continuity of care for patients with rare diseases, companies must supplement domestic supplies by sourcing plasma from the ~~summer season.~~ United States and other European countries.

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