After a "very complicated" 2022, the French blood establishment (EFS) found in 2023 "a correct situation" for its reserves, but hopes to renew its stocks in June before the summer period. Last year, impacted by the persistent health crisis, the agency had to make two "vital emergency appeals", in February and June, in the face of historically low reserve levels. "Blood donationis closely linked to the country's economic and health context; when the country is not doing well, it falls," said Thursday, June 8, Cathy Bliem, director general of the EFS, at a press conference.
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Since 2023, the situation is correct with reserves around 88,0000 blood bags, but it will not be enough to start the summer. We would like it to go back to around 100-110,000 pockets," she continued. Six days before World Blood Donor Day, the agency is launching a new donation campaign. Nearly 200 event collections are scheduled across the France during the month of June before new mobilizations planned on the holiday places of the French.
The EFS will also launch a collection in early July to increase its stocks of plasma, the liquid part of the blood in which blood cells circulate (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets), which contains proteins of major therapeutic interest for patients. "Today, French manufacturing represents about 35% of French needs; we depend on 65% of the plasma that is collected in the United States under conditions that are not ethical, "said François Toujas, the president of the EFS. "There is a real challenge to improve our collection to increase our sovereignty."
