[Health care units in the French blood banks, why?]

In France for several years, many patients have been treated in Blood Transfusion Centers belonging to the EFS. This partnership between public hospitals and EFS is appreciated by the patients who find a competent staff in transfusion and apheresis process, in a more pleasant environment than in hospital. There is a total of 93 Health Care Units in Blood Transfusion Centers. Sixty-three of these Health Care Units perform only transfusions and bleeding. In the remaining 30 Health Care Units apheresis, peripheral blood hematopoietic stem, cell harvesting, plasmatic exchanges and extracorporeal photopheresis are also performed. Despite the perfect fit between hospital needs, comfort and easiness for patients, an economical problem remains. At the present time, the reimbursement rate by national health insurance is below the real cost. If unsolved, this discrepancy could force an end to this beneficial partnership.