France: National policy

Abstract

The French transfusion organization is based on principles and structures; the principles are: voluntary, anonymous, non-remunerated donations, focussing on self-sufficiency. There are three structures:

the EFS (Etablissement Français du Sang – French Blood Establishment), for labile blood products;

the LFB (Laboratoire Français du Fractionnement et des Biotechnologies – French Laboratory for Fractionation and Biotechnologies), for blood derivatives;

the INTS (Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine – Blood Transfusion National Institute) for activities such as Reference, Research, Education & Training.

The French health policy aims at defending ethics and self-sufficiency for all human blood derivatives. The French self-sufficiency is limited to cellular products as France is considered a rare user compared with other European countries - its annual growth rate is of about 1% only.

Situation looks quite different with blood derivatives: between 2001 and 2004, consumptions of albumin, clotting factors, and immunoglobulins have shown an average annual increasement of 6.1% to 9.7%.

All these elements have to be appreciated bearing in mind that beyond the 10 years ahead no substitute at all will be able to replace the human blood, making it a full necessity.