A registry of congenital haematological diseases that will make it possible to assess and improve the diagnosis and management of Palestinian patients affected by haemophilia and other congenital bleeding disorders, as well as by thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies. This initiative is the result of the work of the Haemo-PAL team — a project funded by AICS, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation — and implemented through a partnership between the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the National Blood Centre of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. The collaboration has continued to operate in the field despite the severe challenges posed by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

The inauguration of the Registry, which took place in recent days in Ramallah, was held in the presence of the Palestinian Minister of Health, Dr Maged Abu Ramadan, and the Director of AICS Jerusalem, Mirko Tricoli. Also in attendance were representatives of the main Palestinian patient associations — the Palestinian Bleeding Disorders Society, the Thalassemia Palestinian Friends Society, and the Palestinian Avenir Children Foundation — as well as representatives from Fondazione Emo for congenital bleeding disorders and Fondazione For ANEMIA for thalassaemias and other haemoglobinopathies, all partners of the Haemo-PAL project.

In fact, the ceremony took place following a two-day residential training course in Ramallah on the use of this innovative and essential digital data collection tool, which will make a significant contribution to the development of the National Information System and serve as a valuable resource for healthcare provision, planning, and scientific research. The training was led by Professor Alessandro Gringeri of Fondazione Emo and Professor Gian Luca Forni of Fondazione For ANEMIA. Participants included clinicians and healthcare professionals from the main governorates of the Territories — Ramallah, Jenin, Nablus, and Hebron — forming part of a network of haematology centres for diagnosis and treatment that will soon be inaugurated and become fully operational. These centres aim to ensure almost nationwide healthcare coverage in a country profoundly affected by persistent geopolitical instability and territorial fragmentation.

This goal was achieved in a climate of effective participation, support, and collaboration, both human and professional, that has brought specific expertise aimed to a genuine sharing of goals, not just technical knowledge. Humanitarian support also encompasses the creation of solidarity networks, an essential element for the success of any international cooperation initiative.

“We are extremely proud to announce this new milestone achieved by Haemo-PAL,” commented Professor Luciana Teofili, director of the CNS. “Thanks to the fruitful collaboration between Palestinian and Italian partners, this project has created a bridge that relies on the experience of the National Health System and the generosity of our donors, thus providing concrete assistance to those most in need.”

Haemo_PAL Project
The Haemo_PAL project, coordinated by Dr. Fabio Candura, was launched in 2021 and aims to strengthen the diagnostic, therapeutic, and training capacity of Palestinian centers. To date, it has enabled:

  • The sending to Palestine of over 18 thousand vials of plasma-derived medicines exceeding the national requirement,
  • The implementation of a national registry of congenital haematological diseases,
  • In-person and remote training for 60 Palestinian healthcare professionals

The project is based on the collaboration between Italian health institutions, partner Regions (Emilia-Romagna, Marche, Tuscany and Umbria) and local Palestinian partners, with the support and funding of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

What is hemophilia?
Hemophilia is a rare genetic disorder caused by a defect in blood clotting. Affected patients lack clotting factor VIII or IX, proteins essential for stopping bleeding. According to the World Federation of Hemophilia (2021), there are an estimated 815,000 cases worldwide, approximately 277,000 of which are severe.

What is thalassemia?
Thalassemia is a hereditary blood disorder characterized by reduced hemoglobin synthesis, impaired red blood cell production, impaired oxygen transport, and iron overload, resulting in multiple organ dysfunction. Thalassemia is widespread in Mediterranean regions such as Africa, southern Spain, Sicily, and Sardinia, where the disease rate is up to 12 percent.