DRK-Blutspendedienst Baden-Württemberg – Hessen

The DRK-Blutspendedienste are non-profit organizations of the German Red Cross that are dedicated to ensuring the blood supply in Germany nationwide[1]. They form the backbone of blood donation and guarantee - in cooperation with numerous volunteers, partners and companies - a reliable, safe and high-quality supply of medical blood products around the clock, 365 days a year and even in the event of a disaster[1][3].

The main task of the DRK-Blutspendedienste is to professionally examine and process the blood received from voluntary donors and to obtain various blood products from it, which are indispensable for medical care. These include, for example, erythrocyte, thrombocyte and plasma preparations, which are life-saving in operations, serious illnesses or accidents[1]. Each blood donation can help up to three patients through modern processing[3].

The services include the organization and implementation of over 40,000 donation appointments annually, the medical care of donors, extensive laboratory diagnostics, quality control, storage and timely delivery of the preparations to hospitals and practices[1][2]. The DRK-Blutspendedienste are organized as independent non-profit companies (gGmbH) and maintain their own institutes as well as cooperations with university hospitals for the scientific development of transfusion medicine[2].

The mission of the DRK-Blutspendedienste is to ensure a nationwide, safe and patient-oriented supply of blood products at all times - regardless of the origin, status or financial possibilities of the recipients[1]. They act according to the ethical principles of the German Red Cross, in particular humanity, impartiality and neutrality, and stand for the highest quality and safety standards[1].

Blood donation in Germany is predominantly organized on a non-profit basis, and the DRK-Blutspendedienste make a significant contribution to ensuring that the costs for blood products remain at the lowest level in European comparison - while maintaining high quality standards[1]. The voluntary work of the German Red Cross is a central success factor here, which enables the sustainably low cost structures[1].

Sustainability is understood by the DRK-Blutspendedienste as a continuous social responsibility. In order to secure the blood supply in the long term, they consistently invest in modern infrastructure, innovative laboratory technologies and the safety of blood products[1]. The education and recruitment of blood donors is also an important part of their sustainability efforts.

The strong involvement of volunteers and the close cooperation with many social partners strengthen the resilience of the system and ensure broad acceptance in the population[3]. With campaigns such as #missingtype for World Blood Donor Day, the DRK-Blutspendedienste publicly advocate for more attention and visibility of blood donation and motivate new donors[3].

The DRK-Blutspendedienste are central, non-profit actors in the German health system. They ensure the supply of life-saving blood products through an efficient, volunteer-based operation that is committed to the highest quality standards and ethical principles. Their commitment to sustainability, safety and social responsibility makes them an indispensable part of the German healthcare landscape[1][3].

• 1 - https://www.blutspende.de/blutspendedienst/ueber-uns/unsere-grundsaetze
• 2 - https://www.blutspende.de/blutspendedienst/ueber-uns/organisationsstruktur
• 3 - https://www.drk-blutspende.de
• 4 - https://www.blutspende.de/magazin/aktuelles/podcast-soziale-verantwortung-in-unternehmen
• 5 - https://www.blutspende.de