2024: never before have so many plasma collected in Flanders
Belgian Red Cross-Flanders Achieves goal but self-sufficiency for plasma still far off
Flanders is self-sufficient in blood and Belgian Red Cross-Flanders can meet the demand for the various blood groups at any time. In this context, it should be noted that supplies of the less frequently occurring blood groups are sometimes rather low. No shortages have occurred in 2024. Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is in a very strong position thanks to its thousands of volunteers and its professional staff and support. The organization can also count on a loyal base of donors and partners and always manages to motivate enough people to donate blood and plasma.
Plasma donation increased but Flanders still remains dependent on plasma from abroad.
The demand for plasma - the yellow liquid in the blood containing all kinds of proteins, sugars, fats, salts, hormones and vitamins - has been rising for years and will continue to rise for years to come. However, plasma donation is not yet as well known to the Flemish people as blood donation and, unlike blood, Flanders is not self-sufficient and therefore partly relies on plasma from abroad.
Plasma can save lives. It can be used to give directly to patients, for example, in persons with clotting disorders or very severe burns. Plasma is also necessary for the production of life-saving medication, for example for people suffering from certain (auto)immune diseases.
Plasma donations 2024: +11.5%
Belgian Red Cross-Flanders must therefore collect about 5 percent additional plasma (liters) annually from the government.
"In 2024, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders launched a number of campaigns and they clearly worked. In 2024, we increased to 160,812 liters of plasma compared to 153,154 liters in 2023. The number of plasma donors also experienced a significant increase with +13.2% donors," said Prof. Philippe Vandekerckhove, CEO of Belgian Red Cross-Flanders.
Plasma donation must continue to grow and this remains a challenge: the number of donors in Flanders and Brussels must therefore increase substantially in order to achieve the requested increase also in 2025.
"The demand for plasma has been rising for years and will continue to rise. Belgium wants to reduce its dependence on foreign countries in order to ensure the affordability and supply of life-saving plasma-based medication. Thus, we will need to collect 5% more plasma again in 2025. Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is therefore continuously looking for additional donors," Vandekerckhove continued.
New year, new good intentions: donation goal 2025
Belgian Red Cross-Flanders calls again on donors to set their intentions for 2025.
A lot of people often formulate good intentions at the start of a new year. Becoming a blood or plasma donor or continuing to donate requires minimal effort, making it more than achievable for everyone. So just do it. Moreover, you really can save lives this way.
"With the Donation Goal, we ask donors to set a goal for themselves at the start of the new year for the number of times they want to donate plasma or blood. We help them reach their goal, with reminders and by inviting them to come and donate. But the best motivation is to actually help save lives," concludes Prof. Dr. Philippe Vandekerckhove.