On 17th September, Blood and Beyond has proudly joined a broad coalition of patient, healthcare professional, and public-health organisations to put blood health firmly on the EU policy agenda during the remainder of this political term.

In a joint letter addressed to MEP Adam Jarubas, Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Public Health (SANT), and the Committee’s political group coordinators on 17th September on the occasion of World Patient Safety Day, the signatory organisations call on SANT to take two concrete steps: hold a dedicated public hearing on blood health and initiate a European Parliament Resolution on improving blood health in Europe.

Poor blood health, mostly caused by anaemia and iron deficiency, affects more than 28 million people across Europe, yet remains under-recognised in European health policy. Its consequences extend across many of Europe’s major health challenges, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease and inflammatory bowel disease, while women and children are disproportionately affected.

Improving blood health therefore offers an opportunity to improve patient safety and patient outcomes across multiple disease areas, reduce health inequalities and strengthen the sustainability of European healthcare systems, including through approaches such as patient blood management.

Blood health is fundamental to human health. It is time for it to receive the political attention it deserves.

Together with our fellow signatories, Blood and Beyond stands ready to support the European Parliament in advancing a more coordinated European approach to blood health.

Read the joint letter and join the call for European action on blood health.