Zero hour for blood donation

The already marginal blood supply is dwindling dangerously. According to protothema.gr verified sources, there is a dramatic decrease of 7% for this year for blood units collected by voluntary organizations and bodies, which are the main «blood donors» of the health system.

It is significant that on Wednesday a large hospital in Athens did not have the necessary blood units for planned transfusions of patients with anemia and thalassaemia; patients were informed that they should ensure their own donors for their precious life fluid.

Greece needs about 650,000 blood units per year. 285,000 units come from organized donors and blood banks, 324,000 from relatives of the patient, 23,000 from the Armed Forces and 28,000 are imported from Switzerland. 

At the same time, however, experts point out that the country's needs could be met without imports or donations from relatives, if only 3% - 4% of the population would give blood regularly.

Blood donation services are just for «show»

Over time the country has been facing problems regarding the adequacy of blood, but experts believe that the situation is now critical. Donation units at public hospitals and the development of voluntary donation have almost been forgotten, as voluntary organizations and bodies lament.

«The blood donation services at public hospitals are begging for more staff» states a letter addressed to all concerned parties by the POSEA president, Mr. Christos Protopapas. 

The latest incident was recorded at Korinthos hospital; the blood donor service informed the administration of their staff shortage against their operational obligations. The problem is exacerbated by shortages in consumable materials, which does not allow even the most robust blood banks, in terms of staff, to carry out their missions.

“Saturation” in the freezing units of the National Blood Transfusion Centre

At the same time, thousands of tons of blood plasma remain untapped, a component which could produce thousands of free medicines for patients. However, as stated in the same letter by Mr. Christos Protopapas, they were informed by officials on November 11th that «the freezing units are full with no room for further storage» and asked «to further inform hospital blood donation units to desist from sending more blood plasma».