Red Cross hit by blood supply crisis

Red Cross hit by blood supply crisis

The Thai Red Cross Society says it is experiencing a “countrywide blood shortage crisis” and calls for donations to bolster its supplies.

The amount of donated blood at the Red Cross National Blood Centre is currently unable to meet requests for blood from 170 hospitals nationwide, 135 of which are located in Bangkok and its vicinity, the society said in a statement Thursday.

Blood donations to the Red Cross are dwindling, causing a serious shortage for hospitals around the country. (Photo courtesy of the Thai Red Cross Society)

The city hospitals’ daily demand for blood exceeded 5,000 units, but the centre was able to distribute only 1,400 units. 

The society said the average daily demand from upcountry hospitals was 2,000 units. However it could only supply 300 units.

The blood bank had failed to meet daily demand of 1,600-2,000 units since early this month, resulting in an accumulated supply shortage, while requests from hospitals had gone up to 5,000-6,000 units a day, it said.

People in good health were urged to donate blood at the Thai Red Cross Society on Henri Dunant road or its regional blood donation units in Chiang Mai, Nakhon Sawan, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Chon Buri, Ratchaburi, Songkhla, Phuket and Hua Hin, or call 0-2256-4300 or 0-2263-9600-99 ext. 1101.

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