Today, the need for more plasma to produce medicines is growing. Improved and early diagnosis help more patients access treatment and medical research reveals new indications for plasma-derived medicines. At the same time, today’s global balance of plasma exports and imports is at risk from global emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical shifts driven by evolving national health priorities and trade issues that may restrict the exchange of blood components and plasma protein therapies. What are the risk factors for Europe’s public health policies?

To further improve donor safety and plasma quality, PPTA developed the International Quality Plasma Program (IQPP) which provides independent, third-party evaluation and recognition of a plasma donation centre’s adherence to global industry standards for plasma. The cornerstone of safe and efficient plasma medicines are healthy regular donors. IQPP-certified plasma donation centres monitor the safety of people donating plasma. Safety studies of Intensive Plasmapheresis (SIPLA I 2003; SIPLA II 2013) and other studies of several million donor experiences (PPTA 2016; 2018, 2021) conclude that participating in plasmapheresis is safe, even for first-time and inexperienced donors.

An effective plasma collection program needs to build long term relationships with donor communities. This requires providing potential donors with clear information about the positive impact they are having on someone’s life by giving plasma and offering incentives that recognize the substantial commitment and inconvenience that donors make when they donate plasma. Today, 24 EU countries have schemes to cover costs incurred by plasma donors or compensate them for their effort and the inconvenience related to donating – following the principle of Voluntary Unpaid Donation.