The blood was transported on a flight that departed Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport at 1am on July 30.

The blood was transported on a flight that departed Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport at 1am on July 30. By 4 am, Cho Ray Blood Transfusion Center received and brought it to its blood bank. The blood has a shelf life until early September 2021.

So far this month, the Cho Ray Blood Transfusion Center has twice called for blood donation. By July 28, the center had only 1,700 units of blood left, which is enough for treatment for less than a week.

After a short discussion with the Director of Cho Ray Blood Transfusion Center and Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Truong Son, the Central Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Hanoi immediately planned to transport 1,000 blood units to Cho Ray Hospital, although the amount of blood stored at the Institute was very limited.

“In the past few days, after the call, the number of blood donors in Hanoi and the northern provinces increased. While we can still receive blood, we think we need to do something to help the South fight the epidemic. Without help, within a few days, there will be no more blood to serve treatment needs, especially for severely ill Covid-19 patients," said Dr. Bach Quoc Khanh, Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

Blood transfusion centers across the country are facing a very difficult and stressful situation for the first time, even though blood shortages have occurred several times since the beginning of 2020.

Many localities like Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho… have not been able to organize blood donations for a long time so the amount of reserved blood has decreased seriously.

Meanwhile, the demand for blood at central and provincial hospitals is still very high, including blood products for the treatment of severe Covid-19 patients. Many places can only supply 50-70% of blood needs at some times.

Doctor Le Hoang Oanh, Director of Cho Ray Blood Transfusion Center, said that the blood reserve at the Center had decreased sharply, even dropping nearly to the bottom at some times.

“We cannot collect blood by having direct access to donors, but calling for donors to go directly to the center. However, this is still a challenge when the city is tightening social distancing measures," said the doctor.

Blood shortages at the Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion - Hematology Hospital are similar, as only 30-50 people come to donate blood each day. Meanwhile, every day, the hospital has to supply 300 blood units. The amount of blood received is only 1/10 of the blood needed to supply to nearly 150 hospitals in the city.

Nguyen Lien

HCM City faces blood shortage, seeks donations from community

HCM City faces a severe shortage of blood for emergency aid and treatment at hospitals, according to the HCM City Hospital of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.