Hospitals face blood shortage

February 14, 2017 - 18:00

Hospitals in Hà Nội are experiencing an ongoing shortage of blood for transfusions due to a spike in the number of patients admitted to hospital for treatment after the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Between 700 and 900 units of bloods are used for treatment a day at the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion on average. Hospitals in Hà Nội are experiencing an ongoing shortage of blood for transfusions due to a spike in the number of patients admitted to hospital for treatment after the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday. - Photo nihbt.org.vn
Viet Nam News

HÀ NỘI –  Hospitals in Hà Nội are experiencing an ongoing shortage of blood for transfusions due to a spike in the number of patients admitted to hospital for treatment after the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Phạm Tuấn Dương, deputy director of the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT), said the institute allocated sufficient reserved blood for treatment during and after Tết for hospitals.

However, the institute had "not been able to supply enough blood to the hospital due to the fact that the number of patients returning to hospitals for treatment has been higher than expected,” he said.

The institute had received over 500 patients and 150 hospitalisations each day since the end of the Lunar New Year, Duong said.

Between 700 and 900 units of bloods were used for treatment a day at the institute on average.

The blood shortages were also reported at other hospitals in Hà Nội and other northern provinces.

Phạm Quang Vinh, head of Haematology and Blood Transfusion Faculty of Bạch Mai Hospital, said most of reserve blood had been used due to high number of patients at the hospital.

“An additional of 1,200 units of blood has been transferred from the NIHBT over the past week but it has not met the demand, “he said, adding that many patients had to have their treatment delayed due to shortage of blood.

According to the latest report of the NIHBT, the Institute currently has 1,324 units of blood, which are mainly B and AB blood types. The reservation for O and A blood types are at alarmingly low levels.

To cope with the demand for blood tranfusion, Duong said, the blood collection was conducted on all days, including weekends, at the institute.

“We have called for blood donations from the whole community especially universities, collegues and agencies. We have also sent messages to blood donors.”

Nguyễn Anh Trí, director of the NIHBT, said he expected that that the blood shortage would be eased soon.

The Red Spring Festival 2017, the largest annual voluntarily blood event of the year, would be held on Saturday (February18) at National Convention Centre, he said.

The Festival has collected more than 48,000 units of blood since 2008. — VNS

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