In summary

The Nucleo Operativo di Protezione Civile, founded in 1993, provides logistical support for the urgent transport of medical teams and biological materials for transplants. It has collaborated with major Italian healthcare centers, ensuring efficiency, safety, and fast transfers by land and air.

Since 1994, it has supported cardiothoracic, liver, and bone marrow transplants, expanding its activities internationally. In 2008, it began working with the Carreras Foundation in Spain, and since 2016, it has partnered with the Argentine Ministry of Health.

Due to increasing demand, the organization has expanded its fleet and personnel, solidifying its key role in the healthcare sector.

The Nucleo Operativo di Protezione Civile was founded in 1993 by a group of volunteers with extensive experience in Civil Protection. Recognizing the lack of specialized logistical support in the socio-health sector, they established a dedicated non-profit volunteer organization, officially recognized by the Municipality and Province of Florence, registered with the Regional Volunteer Registry, and listed by the Department of Civil Protection at the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The first office was set up in Florence, equipped with the necessary infrastructure to begin operations.

During that period, organ transplantation was gaining traction in Tuscany. Collaborating with the regional transplant coordinator, the organization developed a structure specifically designed to address logistical challenges in transplant procedures, primarily focusing on donation-related processes.

Major Milestones in Transplant Logistics

  • 1994: Supported the cardiothoracic transplant center at Le Scotte Hospital, Siena, facilitating urgent medical team transport for heart transplants.
  • 1996: Provided logistical expertise for the newly established liver transplant center at Cisanello Hospital, Pisa, later expanding involvement in over 100 transplants annually by 1999, including the creation of an automated coordination center.
  • 1997: Assisted Careggi Hospital, Florence, in organizing and executing bone marrow transports, ensuring personnel were specially trained for international transport protocols.
  • 1998-1999: Partnered with the Tuscan Tissue Bank, aiding the logistics of homograft, cardiac valve retrieval, and bone tissue collection, leading to collaborations with multiple transplant centers across Italy.

International Expansion & Increased Capacity

  • 2008: Began collaborating with the Carreras Foundation in Barcelona, facilitating global HPC progenitor cell transport for Spanish bone marrow donors.
  • 2016: Partnered with the Argentine Ministry of Health, further expanding its international presence.
  • The rising demand led to fleet expansion, growing from 2 vehicles to 6, alongside an increase in operational personnel to meet escalating requests.

This history marks the Nucleo Operativo di Protezione Civile as a pioneering force in transplant logistics, consistently improving efficiency, safety, and accessibility in the field.