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Launch Event The Blood and Beyond initiative hosted an online webinar on Thursday, March 26, 2020, to officially launch the initiative and report “Rethinking blood use in Europe to improve outcomes for patients – A shared vision”. The event featured panel discussions with experts about potential policy recommendations and solutions to improve outcomes for patients and society at large.
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The policy webinar marked the launch of the multi-stakeholder initiative Blood and Beyond and its first publication the “Rethinking blood use in Europe to improve outcomes for patients” report. The webinar brought together over seventy participants from EU institutions, EU and national authorities, patient groups, medical professional societies, allied healthcare professionals, industry representatives and other interested stakeholder groups to share their unique views and experiences on the blood transfusion landscape. A summary document of the launch event is available for download here, and below you can find the recordings of the event.

Launch Event – March 26​

1. Opening

Tamsin Rose, Moderator

2. Introductory remarks

Dr Cristian-Silviu Bușoi, Member of the European Parliament, Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and Dr Manuel Pizarro, Member of the European Parliament

3. Why we need the Blood and Beyond initiative

Dr Androulla Eleftheriou, Executive Director, Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF)

4. Presentation of the science policy report

Dr. Axel Hofmann, Visiting Professor, Institute of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Zurich; Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia

(includes Q&A with participants)

5. Patient testimonial

Bergit Kuhle, MDS Patients Interest Group (MDS-Patienten Interessengemeinschaft); Leukemia Relief Rhein-Main (Leukämiehilfe Rhein-Main); Steering Committee Member, MDS-Alliance

6. Panel discussion: solutions and policy responses to improve outcomes for patients and address the impact of blood transfusions

The panel was formed of:

  • Dr Esther Oliva, Dept of haematology, Grande Ospedale Metropolitano BianchiMelacrino-Morelli di Reggio Calabria; Reggio Calabria, and Board member, European Hematology Association (EHA) Scientific Working Group on QoL
  • Dr Guy Rautmann, Secretary, EDQM, Council of Europe
  • Dr Gilles Follea, Advisor Campus, French Blood Establishment (EFS)

7. Closing statements

Tamsin Rose, Moderator