Heath Minister admits discussions with private companies on “investments” in blood, primarily plasma – Ethical and safety concerns raised by experts

Report by Iliana Zervou

Ongoing discussions with private companies

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has confirmed to TPP that the Ministry of Health is in talks with private companies and pharmaceutical groups about investing in the collection of blood and other “materials of human origin,” such as plasma and tissues. Georgiadis insists that these discussions do not equate to the privatisation of blood, citing examples from the US and other European countries where similar practices exist.

Georgiadis on the discussions:

“We have also met with private companies and pharmaceutical groups, mainly not for blood but for plasma, where they specialise, as is the case in many European countries. This option now exists, and we are also discussing it for Greece. We have not yet come to a conclusion,” Georgiadis stated.

Regarding the potential shift of blood donation oversight from the National Blood Donation Centre to an Independent Authority, the Minister referred to an article in the Editors’ Journal about the commercialisation of blood. He emphasised that there is no draft law yet and that discussions are still in the early stages.

Ethical and safety concerns

Hara Matsuka, Professor at the School of Medicine of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (EKPA) and former President of the National Blood Donation Centre, expressed significant concerns about the initiative. She highlighted that the responsibility for blood and tissues currently lies with the National Blood Donation Centre, and transferring this to a private entity could compromise public control and safety.

Matsuka explained, “We use plasma to produce certain medicines, mainly globulin C, which is in short supply. This proposal marks the first time in Greece that such products derived from human substances might be commercially managed, moving away from the current system of voluntary donation.”

She pointed out that while European regulations have relaxed, allowing countries like Germany to open up the plasma collection market, this shift raises serious ethical and safety issues. “If donors are paid, it may compromise the stringent safety conditions required for blood donations,” she warned.

Minister’s message to private investors

At the International Plasma Protein Congress held in Athens on April 16 and 17, Georgiadis made a statement indicating the government’s willingness to change legislation to facilitate plasma collection by private entities. He emphasised, “Our government is business-friendly and reformist, ready to change the legislation to allow the field of plasma collection to grow quickly.”

Reactions from experts

Matsuka critiqued the Ministry’s approach, asserting, “The intention seems to be a continuation of the effort introduced at the conference. However, involving the private sector in such sensitive areas is primarily driven by profit rather than strict scientific conditions and safety.”

Contradictory statements from the Ministry and the National Blood Donation Centre

Despite Georgiadis’s claim that all relevant bodies have been informed, Panagiotis Katsivelas, President of the National Blood Donation Centre, refuted this, stating, “We have received no official information or announcements from the Ministry of Health regarding these discussions.”

Katsivelas emphasised the importance of maintaining voluntary and unpaid blood donations, which ensure patient safety. “This conversation should not start, especially when voluntary blood donation in Greece is improving daily. Introducing paid donations could harm blood collection and volunteer efforts,” he stated.

Konstantinos Stamoulis, the scientific director of the National Blood Donation Centre, also confirmed the absence of any official information from the Ministry of Health or Adonis Georgiadis.

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