Belgian Red Cross-Flanders opens new donor center in Ostend
Belgian Red Cross-Flanders festively opened its 16th donor center, the first on the Belgian coast. With this new location in Ostend, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders wants to make plasma donation more accessible to residents of the region and further strengthen its growth ambition for plasma donations. It is the 4th donor center in West Flanders.
"To no longer depend on plasma from abroad to make life-saving medicines, we need more donations, and for that we need more donor centers. With this new center in Ostend, we can collect 8,000 plasma donations per year and take an important step towards self-sufficiency" says Vincent Verbeecke, spokesman for Belgian Red Cross-Flanders.
Plasma and blood
"At the donor center in Ostend, you can donate both plasma and blood. With this we are closing another white spot on the map. Previously, residents of Ostend and the surrounding area had to go to Bruges or Roeselare to donate plasma. Now it will be a lot easier," echoes Belgian Red Cross-Flanders. "Ostend is the second new center we are opening this year, after Oudenaarde."
Sharp rise in demand for plasma: life-saving and strategically important
The demand for plasma is increasing year after year. By 2029, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders wants to realize more than 250,000 plasma donations per year. In 2024, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders received more than 160,000 plasma donations.
Plasma, the yellow liquid part of blood, contains substances such as immunoglobulins (antibodies) and is essential for treating patients with burns, immune disorders or after certain cancer treatments. Plasma can be administered directly or serve as a raw material for life-saving medication.
"We currently have about 25,000 patients needing plasma medication in Belgium, and that number continues to rise. In some cases, up to 120 plasma donations are needed for one patient per year," Verbeecke said. "With a plasma or blood donation you save lives, it's a small act, but it makes such a big difference."
Donor Center Ostend: 10 collection beds and a strong team
The new donor center has 7 collection beds for plasma and 3 for blood. A total of 5 people will work in the center: 1 team leader, 2 collection assistants and 2 nurses. In addition, a doctor is always present.
In 2025, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is aiming for over 4,000 plasma donations in Ostend (an average of 1,000 per month from September to December), and 950 blood donations. From 2026 the expected cruising speed is 8,000 plasma donations and 2,000 blood donations per year, 10,000 donations in total.
During the first opening week from September 8 to 12, 2025, all donors will be festively welcomed with mini Boules de Berlin, provided by a local bakery from Ostend.
Ostend fills a gap in West Flanders
With Ostend, West Flanders gains a fourth donor center. In 2024, Belgian Red Cross-Flanders registered the following number of plasma donations in the province:
Bruges: 14,235
Kortrijk: 15,692
Roeselare: 13,341
The arrival of the center in Ostend thus represents an important expansion of the local offer on the coast.
Making an appointment & contact information
You can make an appointment at www.rodekruis.be/donorportaal or by calling the toll-free number 0800 777 00.
The donor center in Ostend is centrally located at 13 Northlaan, easily accessible by car or public transportation, and open every weekday.