The Ministry of Health has reported that during the past year, a total of 1,070,169 people made blood and plasma donations in Spain, which allowed for 1,662,035 blood and blood component donations. These figures represent a decrease of 2.78 percent in the number of donors and almost one percent in the volume of donations compared to the data recorded in 2024.
Coinciding with World Blood Donor Day, the Ministry of Health has highlighted the key role of donations in sustaining healthcare activities and being able to face complex medical and surgical procedures, in addition to ensuring the availability of plasma-derived medicines, which are essential for certain patients.
In its informative note, the Ministry has emphasized that blood donations provide basic blood components for daily care, from surgical interventions and oncological treatments to emergency care, transplants, or obstetric complications.
In an international scenario marked by health crises, armed conflicts, and an increase in natural disasters linked to climate change, the Ministry has insisted that ensuring sufficient blood reserves is of special relevance. Therefore, it has called for strengthening donation systems and maintaining a stable and broad base of donors.
The Ministry has also underlined that the Spanish model is based on voluntary, altruistic, and unpaid donation, a principle that, it emphasizes, guarantees the safety, equity, and sustainability of the transfusion system.
478,229 liters of plasma obtained in 2025
From the donations made last year, 478,229 liters of plasma were obtained, which represents an increase of 1.32 percent compared to the previous year. This plasma is essential for the manufacturing of plasma-derived medicines used in the treatment of numerous chronic pathologies.
Of the total collected, 67,551 liters came from plasmapheresis, a specific technique that allows for the extraction of plasma only, of which 108,304 procedures were carried out in 2025.
Health has indicated that one of the strategic objectives at the national level is to increase the availability of plasma in order to decrease dependence on other countries, strengthen the capacity of the health system, and guarantee equitable and sustained access to essential treatments. Although progress has been made in this direction in recent years, the Ministry considers it necessary to continue progressing by incorporating new donors.
22nd World Blood Donor Day
This year marks the 22nd World Blood Donor Day under the World Health Organization's (WHO) slogan "A drop of humanity. Donate blood. Save lives," a message that aims to highlight the human, solidarity, and collective value of each donation.
The celebration of this day aims to thank all donors for their commitment and to remember that blood and plasma donation saves lives, strengthens health systems, and constitutes an act of shared responsibility.
"Each donation represents a gesture of humanity, care, and solidarity towards those who need a transfusion or a plasma-derived treatment to move forward," the Ministry of Health concluded.