Nicosia: Cyprus is set to implement its first comprehensive National Blood Strategy, aiming to ensure the sufficiency, safety, quality, and sustainable management of blood, a vital and irreplaceable resource within the health system. The official presentation and handover of the Strategy to the Minister of Health, Neophytos Charalambides, is scheduled for June 13 during a special workshop in Nicosia, just a day before World Blood Donor Day.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the National Committee for Thalassemia and Other Hemoglobinopathies emphasized that the new Strategy is designed to establish a modern, coordinated, and resilient framework for the country's blood system. This framework builds upon the experience and best practices developed in Cyprus over time in voluntary blood donation and transfusion therapy.
The press release highlights Cyprus as one of the countries that have achieved high levels of blood collection and safety, largely due to the efforts of volunteer donors, the Blood Centre, Blood Banks, healthcare professionals, and the longstanding support of the State.
The coordination and scientific oversight of this initiative were led by the President of the National Committee, Dr. Androulla Eleftheriou, who described the Strategy as "a collective achievement and at the same time a national responsibility". She emphasized that blood is more than just a healthcare resource, stating, "it is life, it is social solidarity, it is the tangible proof that one person can stand by another, even without knowing them".
The five-year Strategy will focus on enhancing blood donation, improving blood management and utilization, upgrading blood services, and advancing blood vigilance, quality, and oversight. It also aims to promote innovation, research, and digitalization in these areas.
Furthermore, the Committee noted that Cyprus is aligning with the new European requirements from the framework for Substances of Human Origin (SoHO), with the goal of further strengthening safety and public trust in the blood system.