Red Cross Flanders seeks 25,000 new plasma donors to boost self-sufficiency
Red Cross Flanders is aiming to recruit 25,000 additional plasma donors in the coming years to make Belgium self-sufficient in plasma supplies. Plasma is a critical component in medications used to treat people with immune disorders and inflammatory diseases.
Rising demand, limited supply
Demand for plasma-based medication is rising steadily, both domestically and internationally. Belgium currently produces only about half of the plasma it needs, relying heavily on imports. To reduce this dependence, Red Cross Flanders is looking to increase donor numbers by 2029. In 2024 alone, roughly 25,000 patients in Belgium were treated with plasma-derived medication.
“Plasma donation saves lives,” said Federal health minister Frank Vandenbroucke (Vooruit) during a visit to the Red Cross Flanders donor centre in Leuven. “Thanks to scientific progress, we can treat patients with plasma in an increasingly targeted and effective way. That is why it is essential that we as a society remain in solidarity and continue to donate.”
The number of medical conditions for which immunoglobulins are used is increasing every year. In 2010, Belgium required 1,125 kilograms of immunoglobulins. Today, that figure has climbed to over 3,000 kilograms, marking an increase of more than 150 per cent over 14 years. This upward trend is expected to continue.
Aiming for independence
Currently, Belgium is only about 46 per cent self-sufficient in plasma. The remaining supply, or the medication made from it, is imported from countries like the United States, which are themselves experiencing shortages. To reduce this vulnerability, Vandenbroucke is working to scale up national plasma collection efforts.
"A strong plasma supply of our own enables us to care for people without worries. That is why we are committed to a strong, independent and sustainable blood supply by the blood institutions. In difficult times, we must take care of each other," he concluded.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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