[REVISION HISTORY]

Italy blood shortages persist amid regional donation shifts

Updated 14 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-12 07:56 UTC → 2026-09-15 23:11 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. ~~The Ragusa provincial~~ By mid-September, the crisis has extended to other regions. In Tuscany, Avis ~~collected 7,230 units~~ Toscana reported a critical situation following a difficult summer, noting that the National Blood Center has signaled widespread shortages. Claudia Firenze, president of Avis Toscana, emphasized that both blood and plasma ~~during July and August, a level sufficient~~ are essential to ~~meet local needs~~ ensure the continuity of medical treatments and ~~assist other regions. This success~~ surgeries. In Naples, the Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli is ~~attributed~~ responding to ~~a steady increase in collections since 2016 and a widespread network~~ reduced stocks by organizing an open day for blood donation on September 19 at the Monaldi Hospital Transfusion Medicine Center. Federico Brighel, acting director of ~~collection centers, including high-performing sites such as Marina di Ragusa.~~ the center, stated that stocks need to be replenished to support patients requiring transfusions or constant transfusion therapy.

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