Urgent Appeal for Blood Donations
The summer months in Portugal are proving to be a challenging time for hospitals, as a critical shortage of blood reserves persists. This shortage is primarily due to a reduction in blood donations during this period, as regular donors, who are on average older, go on holiday.
FEPODABES, a non-profit institution dedicated to promoting benevolent blood donation, has proposed extending blood collection hours until September 15th, particularly at certain collection centers and hospitals. The aim is to accommodate more donors after work and at the end of the day, including at the beach.
The proposed change aims to give all healthy people the opportunity to donate blood in cooler weather, which is seen as an opportunity to encourage more people to donate. FEPODABES has launched a campaign called "Give Blood Before Going on Vacation," encouraging all eligible citizens to donate.
However, the ongoing staff shortages at the blood centers may affect the proposed extended hours for blood collection. Alberto Mota, the president of FEPODABES, has expressed concern about ongoing blood collection cancellations due to a lack of staff at the three blood centers. As of now, FEPODABES has not stated whether these shortages will impact the extended hours.
The Portuguese Institute of Blood and Transplantation (IPST) is taking measures to address the shortage. These include appealing to donors to give blood before going on holiday to build up reserves ahead of the summer demand spike, emergency shipments of blood from the Azores and Madeira islands, and the publication of weekly blood stock updates to inform both regular and first-time donors and encourage timely donations.
Despite these measures, the shortage continues to be a recurring problem that intensifies during the summer months. Hospitals in major cities such as Lisbon and Porto have had to postpone non-urgent surgeries—like knee replacements and benign tumor removals—to prioritize life-saving treatments and emergency care.
Álvaro Beleza, the director of the Immuno-Hemotherapy Service at Santa Maria Local Health Unit, has stated that blood reserves are low in all hospitals in Portugal, creating a difficult situation. Santa Maria Hospital has warned of low blood reserves, leading to postponed surgeries and an appeal for donations.
For those interested in donating blood, information about official collection locations can be found on the FEPODABES website at www.fepodabes.pt or on the APP/DSANGUE. It's important to note that eligibility requirements for blood donation include being over 18 years old, weighing more than 50 kilograms, and being in good health.
As the situation continues to evolve, it's crucial for eligible citizens to consider donating blood to help alleviate the shortage and ensure the availability of life-saving treatments for those in need. The IPST has not yet responded to the proposal made by FEPODABES to extend blood collection hours, but the extended hours, if implemented, could provide a significant boost in blood donations during the critical summer months.
In an effort to alleviate the critical blood shortage in Portugal, FEPODABES has suggested extending blood collection hours until September 15th, particularly at Algarve's collection centers and hospitals, to encourage more donations after work and during vacation. The ongoing staff shortages at the blood centers may impact the proposed extended hours, as highlighted by Alberto Mota, the president of FEPODABES.
