“White Blouse - Pink Heart”

Doctors donate blood amid shortage of blood reserves at the hematology and blood transfusion center.

The Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center of Hue Central Hospital currently supplies blood to 10 hospitals in Hue city and surrounding provinces and cities.

According to statistics, the Center needs at least 4,500 units of blood each month, but in June it only received 2,700 units. In the first 10 days of July, it collected 800 units.

Specialist II Doctor Ton That Minh Tri, Director of the Center, said: "The prolonged anemia is threatening to interrupt treatment, especially in emergency cases, chronic patients and high-risk pregnant women."

Blood shortages often occur during the summer because university students in Hue (the main blood donors) return home for the summer. This year, the additional supply from wards and communes has also been interrupted due to the process of reorganizing the two-level local government. Therefore, the local Red Cross has not been able to mobilize blood donations.

“The staff of Hue Central Hospital have promptly donated blood to maintain sufficient blood supply for emergency care and patient treatment, especially during times when blood supply is scarce. We want to spread the noble act of donating blood to save lives in the community, to all people to ensure that blood supply is always adequate,” shared Dr. Hoang Thi Lan Huong, Deputy Director of Hue Central Hospital.

In the first 6 months of 2025, Hue city organized 68 blood donation campaigns, collecting 16,627 units, including more than 2,900 units of platelets. However, due to the short shelf life of blood (28–42 days), the health sector needs a steady supply, instead of concentrating on peak periods.

“100% of the blood coming to the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center of Hue Central Hospital comes from voluntary blood donations. When the schedule is interrupted, such as during Tet or summer, the system has almost no alternative source,” said Mr. Le Thanh Hai, Deputy Head of Scientific Research Department, Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center.

To proactively provide blood to treat patients, the Center has contacted many agencies and forces in the area, but the amount of blood is still not enough. The hospital is calling on patients' relatives to donate blood and exchange blood. Accordingly, patients need blood type A, but if their relatives have blood type B, the hospital will support the exchange. The relatives' blood will be preserved and kept to treat others. "This method is only effective for patients who live nearby and are local. It is difficult to apply to patients from far away provinces," said a doctor at Hue Central Hospital.

During the blood donation on the morning of July 11, many people volunteered without being called, including Van Dinh Thoai, a security guard at the hospital, who has donated blood more than 20 times. “I can’t do anything big, but when I see patients waiting for blood, I join in,” he said.

Doctors and medical staff donating blood to save lives has become a common practice. Internal blood donation is a regular activity at the hospital. Many individuals have been awarded by the provincial and central Red Cross levels. There are doctors who have donated blood at least 50 times, because "donating blood does not affect health and physical condition", said specialist II Doctor Ton That Minh Tri. In many cases of anemia surgery, doctors and medical staff have not hesitated to take their own blood to directly transfuse to save the patient's life.

Currently, the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center continues to maintain on-site and mobile collection points. In the third quarter of 2025, the Red Cross will coordinate to organize blood donation campaigns as planned. Healthy people between the ages of 18 and 60 can donate blood. Donors are examined for health, safety, and issued a certificate to use blood when needed.

The health sector calls on schools, agencies, and organizations to urgently restore regular blood donation schedules to ensure continuous supply and avoid prolonged blood shortages, not only for hospitals in Hue but also in the region.

DUONG QUANG TIEN

Source: https://nhandan.vn/blouse-trang-trai-tim-hong-post893521.html