The law equated donors with volunteers and provided them support, was adopted by the Duma on first reading

On August 19, the State Duma adopted a draft law aimed at popularizing the donor movement in Russia.

In particular, the document proposes to equate donors with volunteers so that they can receive the same support measures.

Equalizing donors' rights with volunteers is a natural process. Who are the volunteers? These are people who willingly give their time, labor and even a part of themselves to the benefit of society. Here I would like to remind you that today Russia is a world leader in the development of donations. 99% of the Russian donors are essentially the same volunteers who save the lives of those who need it. Working with young people for the Blood Service has always been and remains one of the main directions in the field of development of the donor movement. We are already seeing the results of our work. People under 35 make up almost half of all regular donors. We do not stop and continue to seek new forms of interaction with this category of population, because over time the youth today will grow up. Attracting young people in the donor movement should not stop. We need a centralized approach. I am sure that the adopted law will encourage young people, popularize donation and increase the amount of blood and its components», - noted the head of the Department of Medical Support for Extreme Work and Blood Services of FMBA Russia, Olga Eikhler.

According to the adopted law, donors of blood, its components and bone marrow, as well as those who develop the donor movement will receive the same measures of support as volunteers.

These are:

• Reimbursement of expenses necessary for volunteer activities.

• Award of a badge for voluntary activities.

• Financial, organizational, information, consulting, property and methodological support from the state authorities and local self-government.

• Registration of voluntary activities upon admission to educational organizations of secondary vocational and higher education (this gives the applicant additional competitive points on admission).

• Donor students will be given two days off for blood donation and body recovery, similar to the guarantees for working donors.