Plasma is vital for medicine; national collection and processing face supply chain challenges, especially regarding imports.
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Plasma is used not only for hospital transfusions but also as a raw material for medicines, from which immunoglobulins and clotting factors are produced. The process from collected raw material to finished drug involves industrial processing, meaning sufficient domestic plasma collection does not guarantee adequate medicine supply. While Hungary has some local processing capacity, this does not automatically mean domestically processed drugs go to Hungarian hospitals. National regulations aim to link donors with patients through state procurement for medicines made from industrially collected plasma. Supply issues are evident, such as shortages of specific immunoglobulin preparations in Hungary due to market considerations. Plasma donation allows for more frequent donations than whole blood, and a new national registry aims to manage donor limits across different collection centers. Europe faces supply tensions, with the European Medicines Agency reporting potential shortages of intravenous or subcutaneous immunoglobulins until at least March 2027, partly due to increased demand. Countries like Italy and Spain show that even with increased collection, domestic supply may not meet all needs for specific products. Europe heavily relies on imports from the United States, creating a risk if major suppliers fail. New EU regulations mandate voluntary and unpaid donation while allowing regulated compensation, emphasizing donor health monitoring and preventing financial incentives from compromising donor well-being.
