Three million donors in 2025, almost twice as many men as women

Having consolidated the self-sufficiency of whole blood, the goal of plasma-derived drugs remains to be achieved. Italy is, in fact, still forced to import from abroad approximately 20% of stocks of medicines used mainly in the treatment of numerous pathologies and clinical needs such as haemophilia, hepatic diseases, burns, transplants, and primitive and acquired immunodeficiencies.

Twenty years after the approval of the 'New regulations on transfusion activities and the national production of blood products' (Law 219/2005), the Avis takes stock of the objectives achieved also thanks to a regulation, unique in the world for the centrality it recognises in voluntary associations such as Avis.

A fundamental measure that affirmed the centrality of donation, entrusting associations with the task of contributing to the institutional purposes of the National Health Service through the promotion and development of organised donation and the protection of donors.

Underlining the importance of the results achieved and those yet to be achieved is Avis president Oscar Bianchi: 'With this reform, the role of voluntary work in the transfusion sector has been strengthened,' comments Oscar Bianchi, 'with the recognition of a gesture that makes a commodity that cannot be reproduced in the laboratory available to Italy: blood and plasma. If we were able to take this step and obtain the approval of a law that is still unique worldwide, it was thanks to our constant parliamentary interlocution and the extraordinary silent and daily commitment of so many volunteers.

Bianchi also made the appeal to increasingly take a life-saving step: 'We must work jointly with the other players in the system,' Bianchi emphasised, 'so that these drugs are increasingly the fruit of the altruistic gestures of our donors. It is essential to increase the collection and invest more in plasma donations to free ourselves from dependence and the increasing uncertainties of the international market. Only in this way will we be able to achieve the autonomy of our system and guarantee the country lasting therapeutic security, based on solidarity and shared responsibility.