Apheresis in Ethiopia: Availability, challenges, and opportunities

Apheresis, the selective removal or collection of blood components, has become an essential pillar of modern transfusion medicine, serving both donor and therapeutic purposes. While high-income countries have achieved wide adoption of automated apheresis for component collection and disease management, its use in Africa, including Ethiopia, remains limited. In Ethiopia, apheresis services are confined to a few facilities within the Ethiopian Blood and Tissue Bank Service (EBTBS) and select private institutions. Key challenges include inadequate infrastructure, unreliable supply chains, a shortage of trained personnel, the absence of national standards, and inadequate reimbursement mechanisms. Equipment maintenance difficulties, inconsistent power supply, and low clinical awareness further restrict utilization. Despite these constraints, significant opportunities are emerging. Ongoing national policy and institutional reforms, expanding healthcare investments, and integration with organ transplantation and regenerative medicine programs provide a strong foundation for scaling up services. Regional and international partnerships with organizations such as the World Health Organization, African Society of Blood Transfusion, and International Society of Blood Transfusion, along with advancements in digital health and research, can enhance capacity, traceability, and quality. Expanding apheresis capacity in Ethiopia presents a strategic opportunity to strengthen transfusion medicine, improve clinical outcomes, and build a resilient and sustainable blood system aligned with global standards.