Newsroom
Cyprus is preparing to launch its first National Blood Strategy, a five-year plan designed to strengthen the country's blood system and ensure a reliable supply of safe, high-quality blood for patients.
The strategy will be officially presented to Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides during a workshop in Nicosia on June 13, one day before World Blood Donor Day.
According to the National Thalassaemia and Other Haemoglobinopathies Committee, the plan was developed to create a more coordinated and resilient framework for blood collection, transfusion services, and long-term blood management. It builds on decades of experience in voluntary blood donation and transfusion medicine in Cyprus.
Cyprus has achieved strong blood donation and safety standards over the years through the contribution of volunteer donors, healthcare professionals, blood banks, and the national Blood Centre. Authorities say continued government support has also played an important role in maintaining the system.
The strategy was prepared under the direction of the Health Ministry through the National Blood Donation Council. More than 100 organizations and stakeholders participated in an extended consultation process that shaped the final document.
Dr. Androulla Eleftheriou, president of the National Thalassaemia and Other Haemoglobinopathies Committee, coordinated the project and oversaw its scientific development. She described the strategy as both a collective accomplishment and a national responsibility, reflecting the expertise and recommendations of dozens of institutions and professionals.
Key priorities include increasing blood donations, improving the use and management of blood supplies, modernizing blood services, strengthening monitoring and quality control procedures, and supporting research, innovation, and digital technologies.
The plan also aligns Cyprus with new European regulations governing Substances of Human Origin (SoHO), which are intended to strengthen safety standards and public confidence in blood-related services.
The upcoming workshop will outline the strategy’s main objectives and implementation priorities before the document is formally delivered to the Health Minister.
Speakers at the event are expected to include Health Minister Neophytos Charalambides, Head of the European Commission Representation in Cyprus Panayiotis Pourgourides, and Cyprus Medical Association President Dr. Petros Agathangelou.
