Our blood is not a commodity

Voluntary blood donation is a supreme act of altruism and solidarity with fellow man and its importance is recognized as a priceless gift to society. In May 2005, at the 58th World Health Assembly attended by health ministers from around the world, it was decided to establish June 14 as World Voluntary Blood Donor Day, a day when humanity expresses its gratitude to blood donors around the world. Except that in some countries of the world – few fortunately, but among them Greece unfortunately – blood donation is now treated as «commercial» act, establishing financial incentives for the donor and at the same time paving the way for the establishment of private blood plasma collection centers.

It has been known for almost a month that Adonis Georgiadis intends to allow the commercial activity of private individuals with the plasma of blood and plasma donors, according to a draft law that is part of the government’s general rationale for the privatization of Health. With these data, today, instead of the “celebratory” character with the established blood donation in the garden of the Presidential Palace with the participation of Mrs. Sakellaropoulou, should have the form of a protest against the government’s commercialization effort, as the fundamental principle of this voluntary act is how the citizen contributes with his own blood to social needs without the motivation of material reward. This year’s Volunteer Blood Donor Day should be a day of opposition to the minister’s commercial plans. This year’s Blood Donor Day should be a day of rejection of the utilitarian exploitation of this supreme act of humanity and solidarity. Let those who will be at the Presidential Palace tomorrow dare and tell the President of the Republic that blood is not a commodity.