A proposal to establish a bone marrow donor bank in Azerbaijan has been introduced during a session of the Milli Majlis (National Assembly).
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the proposal was put forward by Member of Parliament Soltan Mammadov during the discussion of the draft law on the "Execution of the 2025 State Budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan."
Soltan Mammadov highlighted that the successful implementation of the compulsory health insurance system, a priority of the state's social policy, is yielding positive results. He emphasized the importance of expanding the service package, improving accessibility to medical services, and enhancing the quality of care. Furthermore, Mammadov stressed the need to strengthen primary healthcare systems and increase investment in preventive measures, citing international trends where such investments help optimize overall healthcare spending.
The MP commended the allocation of 5 million manats in the 2025 state budget for bone marrow transplantation operations, noting the critical need for such support for children suffering from hereditary blood diseases.
"In addition to performing bone marrow transplantations abroad, several measures have been taken to conduct these operations within the country. While it is commendable that these surgeries are being performed in both public and private medical institutions, there is a pressing need to expand human resource capacity and establish a bone marrow donor bank," Mammadov stated. He added that such a facility would eliminate the current limitation of relying solely on first-degree relative donors, thereby significantly increasing the success rates and availability of life-saving treatments.
The establishment of a national donor registry is a standard practice in many developed healthcare systems, allowing for a broader pool of potential matches for patients requiring stem cell or bone marrow transplants. By moving beyond family-only donors, Azerbaijan aims to align its medical infrastructure with international standards for treating complex hematological conditions.
