Hemophilia care in Italy

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Italy has established 20 specialized centers for hemophilia and allied disorders.
• The current geographic distribution and number of these centers are considered inadequate.
• Hemophilia is recognized as a social disease, with centers receiving state or regional grants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of hemophilia care in Italy.
• To evaluate the supply chain and accessibility of clotting factor concentrates.
• To identify areas for improvement in national hemophilia management strategies.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing hemophilia care infrastructure in Italy.
• Analysis of the sources and distribution of factor VIII and prothrombin complex concentrates.
• Examination of policies facilitating home treatment and patient education.

Main Results:

• Less than half of factor VIII for hemophilia A is sourced from hospital blood banks; the remainder is imported.
• Commercial concentrates are available to patients through pharmacies, supporting home treatment.
• Legislation in regions like Lombardy permits home infusions by trained patients or relatives.

Conclusions:

• Current hemophilia management in Italy has advanced, particularly with facilitated home treatment.
• Over-reliance on imported commercial concentrates is unsustainable long-term.
• Developing a national program for manufacturing blood components is essential for future hemophilia care.