Why do we support voluntary, unpaid donation?

In blood donation, “voluntary” means a freely made decision, without obligation or pressure — whether from a superior in the military or from a desire to respond to an appeal for a relative, friend or known patient.

Voluntary donation helps keep the entire system safe. People who come of their own accord can answer the pre-donation questionnaire more openly and honestly, helping to protect both donors and patients.

The principle of unpaid donation is equally important.

A principle we consider essential

Over the past 30 years, Romania's transfusion system has made significant progress, but it has also seen decisions we consider regrettable. One was the increase, from 1 January 2024, in the benefit given after donation to 280 lei. In our view, this measure contradicts one of the fundamental principles laid down in law:

“Blood donation is a voluntary, anonymous and unpaid act.”Law No. 282/2005

The change brought more people to transfusion centres, but also intensified existing difficulties. In the memorandum sent to the Ministry of Health before the measure was adopted, we explained that the same funds could have been invested in tripling staff numbers and expanding mobile blood collection — including the purchase of three specialised blood transport vehicles each year.

Such an investment would have reduced overcrowding and made donation more accessible across the country. Instead, many centres are now under even greater pressure, and trust between staff and donors is suffering. At many centres, for example, people over 50 are asked to obtain a certificate from their GP confirming that they have no chronic conditions, which means an extra trip and may discourage donation.

Shared experience, solutions adapted to Romania

Since 2001, we have represented Romania in the International Federation of Blood Donor Organizations. This collaboration has given us the opportunity to learn from specialists in Western countries and from volunteers and organisations in Asia, discovering approaches and solutions we have tried to adapt to Romania's circumstances.

Over the years, we have supported changes to make donating simpler and more straightforward. These included removing the requirement for Bucharest donors to visit the centre twice if more than six months had passed since their last donation, lowering weight thresholds — which in the early 2000s were 60 kilograms for men and 58 for women, among the highest in the world — and introducing appointments to reduce queuing time.

Lasting change is built together

We have been encouraged to see more organisations contributing to improvements in the system, through donations and purchases for transfusion centres and through projects in the non-governmental sector, especially after the Colectiv fire. We have sought to work with all these organisations and continue to believe that lasting change is built together.

Our work has taken many forms: communication courses for transfusion centre staff, programmes for doctors on the responsible use of blood products, educational activities for preschool, school and university students, concerts, exhibitions, guides and an app for donors.