Data from the Ministry of Health show that, currently, 14 out of every thousand Brazilians are blood donors in the Unified Health System (SUS). This means that 1.4% of the population regularly donates blood, which puts the country within the parameters defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), which recommends that the index be kept between 1% and 3%. In 2022, 3.1 million blood collections were recorded in Brazil. On World Blood Donor Day, celebrated this Wednesday (14), the ministry reinforced the importance of expanding the number of donors to keep the country’s stocks regular, without risk of shortages. The general coordinator of Blood and Blood Products, Joice Aragão, reinforced that each donation can help save up to four lives. “It is important to remember that blood donation is a voluntary, altruistic and unpaid act.” With the message “When you donate blood you help save many lives, donate blood regularly”, the folder launched this Wednesday (14) a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of donation. The ministry warns that this period of the year usually registers low blood stocks, due to the proximity of school holidays and June festivals, in addition to the change of season, with the arrival of winter. “This has an impact on assistance as a whole,” said Joice. “Blood is very important for emergency care, carrying out major surgeries, treating people with sickle cell disease and thalassemias, for example, various oncological diseases that often require transfusion.” Safe collection In the public network, all blood collected is tested and is only released for use after having proven its safety. In addition to serology, 100% of the collection undergoes a test developed by the Institute of Immunobiological Technology (Bio-Manguinhos), which reduces the so-called immunological window for HIV, hepatitis C and B – the time in which the virus is already present in the donor and it has not yet been possible to detect them. Recently, according to the ministry, malaria has also been included as a new detection target. The next step, according to the general coordinator, should be the inclusion of testing for hepatitis E. The country currently has 2,097 blood therapy services, which include services such as collection, blood centers, blood centers, collection and transfusion units and transfusion agencies. Basic requirements To donate, you must be between 16 and 69 years old; weigh at least 50 kilos; not having ingested alcohol in the last 12 hours; and be in good health. Hemobrás Currently, the importation of medicines to treat patients with hemophilia and other diseases related to blood clotting exceeds the figure of R$ 1.5 billion per year. In a note, the ministry highlighted that the full operation of the Brazilian Company of Blood Products and Biotechnology (Hemobrás) constitutes “a fundamental step” for Brazil to reduce its external dependence in the sector of blood products and biotechnology. “The collection of excess plasma in blood therapy services in 2022 was approximately 100,000 liters and the forecast, for 2023, is to exceed 150,000 liters. For next year, the expectation is to collect more than 200 thousand liters”, informed the folder. PEC Also in a note, the ministry took a position against the Proposed Amendment to the Constitution No. 10 of 2022, which intends to amend the Constitution to authorize the collection and processing of human plasma by the private sector. “If approved as it stands, it could cause damage to the Hemotherapy Services Network in Brazil and to the National System of Blood, Components and Blood Products”. “If PEC 10/22 is approved, the financial incentive for donations of blood components and the marketing campaigns for the sale of plasma may reflect in the reduction of voluntary donations to the public health network, affecting the attendances. In addition, the disruption of the supply chain in the public network can impact the ability to supply blood to more remote regions and even in large centers – including, the blood collected in Brazil can be sent to other countries, reducing the supply of the domestic market.”
Agência Brasil
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