In Italy, the Transfusion System is public and part of the National Health System.
It provides diagnostic and treatment services in transfusion medicine and carries out associated activities including the production of blood components for transfusion, the collection of plasma, and the treatment and preservation of haemopoietic stem cells.

Law 219 of 21st October 2005 redesigned the national system regarding transfusion activities, and Italy has adopted organisational tools that have strengthened its commitment to achieving national self-sufficiency of blood and blood components in accordance with the founding principles of the National Health System, namely effectiveness, efficiency, fairness, equality, equity of access to healthcare, and appropriateness.

The Italian model, a network organisation in which the Health Ministry establishes the fundamental principles and objectives that the Regions are called upon to pursue while respecting their autonomy, provides for the involvement of the Health Service and Voluntary Associations and is considered internationally to be one of the best worldwide. A system, for example, that is capable of absorbing and tolerating error, not error-free but error-proof and, as such, committed to investing in the continuous training of its operators to ensure the optimal use of blood, in other words, safe and clinically effective.

The network of Transfusion Services is delocalised on a territorial basis and the Regions designate the Regional Coordinating Centres. Transfusion Services are authorised by the Regions and Autonomous Provinces in compliance with the minimum organisational, structural and technological requirements and by law are affiliated to hospitals. Transfusion Services are authorised by the Regions and Autonomous Provinces in compliance with the minimum organisational, structural and technological requirements and by law are affiliated to hospitals. Blood collection can only be outsourced to accredited donor associations under the technical guidance of the Transfusion Services.

The government and regional health authorities have the task and the commitment to promote periodic, unpaid, responsible and voluntary donation. In line with European regulations, the system is based on the following principles:

  • voluntary, periodic, responsible, anonymous and unpaid donation of blood and blood components, thanks to the institutionally acknowledged role of voluntary associations and federations;
  • the pursuit of self-sufficiency of blood, blood components and blood-derived products as a national, unitary and sustainable strategic goal with the cooperation of all actors in the system;
  • effective protection of the health of citizens (donors and patients) through the diligent implementation of control systems on the safety of collected and transfused blood and of the haemovigilance network on the correct application of administration procedures in hospitals, and transmissible infectious disease surveillance;
  • free blood and blood components for all citizens ;
  • development of transfusion medicine and the appropriate clinical use of blood components and blood-derived medicines.