Drugs, Omar: "On plasma derivatives, tell the story of research and donation"

'Words make the difference, be careful how we communicate'

"When we talk about plasma derivatives, we talk about diseases, patients and donors. What we want to continue to do, as we have done in these 15 years, is to talk about research and many other things, but making sure that even those outside our bubble are engaged in understanding the value of plasma derivatives and the value of donation. We also do it through stories. One, among many, that of a child called Nicolò and his mother, who fought so hard to save the child's life thanks to a plasma derivative that was hard to find at that time. In this context, there was precisely the public-private collaboration, because everyone took action. Nicolò is better, he is undergoing his therapy and has returned home. If we had not also managed to tell a story, fewer people would probably have taken action". This was stated by Ilaria Ciancaleoni Bartoli, director of Omar, Osservatorio Maladie Rare, participating in the panel 'Biopharmaceuticals and plasma derivatives: the road to equal access to innovation', as part of the event 'Science meets Humanity. The future of biopharmaceuticals between plasma and new therapies', promoted by Kedrion Biopharma with the free patronage of the Italian Pharmacology Society (Sif).

"Communication does not cure - he specifies - but it can ensure that the therapy, for which so much has been sweated, can be accompanied by an explanation. It can ensure that it can be understood. Communication is based on words, which make the difference. Ours - he observes - is called National Health Service, and not National Health System, because the 'system' is something static, which tends to remain in equilibrium, therefore it does not change even when the solution is quite evident. Instead, the 'service' is 'going' beyond, taking the small additional step to bring concrete and real help".