This finding was one of the factors that prompted us to analyse how we can continue to offer patients the best possible donation in the future. This has resulted in a new recruitment strategy. The most obvious change: a lowering of the age limit for newly registering donors from 55 to 40. The Swiss registry, which celebrated both its 30^th birthday and a phase of rapid growth in 2018, plans to continue its success story by rapidly transferring new findings from medical research to routine clinical practice.

New developments in blood transfusion as well: a panel of experts having evaluated the risk of hepatitis E transmission through a blood transfusion, as of 1 October 2018 all blood products in Switzerland are now also tested for hepatitis E. This affords better protection to immune-suppressed patients, for whom the hepatitis E virus poses a particular risk.

The blood supply division is funded solely through the sale of its products to hospitals. This division receives neither state funds nor financial donations, unlike the blood stem cell division, for which a mandate from the Swiss government exists. In light of this, we are following with great interest the further steps towards the implementation of a parliamentary initiative to have supplying blood to the population declared a federal task. The initiative obtained Council committee approval last year, and draft legislation is being currently being prepared.

From Dr. Rudolf Schwabe to Dr. Bernhard Wegmüller

Dr. Rudolf Schwabe retired last year, after nearly 20 years of service at the head of the umbrella organisation Swiss Transfusion SRC. The Board of Directors elected Dr. Bernhard Wegmüller as his successor. The changeover took place in September of 2018.