《TAIPEI TIMES》 Foundation calls for blood donations as supply hits ‘critical’

Taiwan Blood Service Foundation president Hou Sheng-mou, fifth left, holds a placard along with event participants at a press conference in Taipei yesterday. Photo: Lo Pi, Taipei Times

By Lo Pi / Staff reporter Taiwan faces a critical blood shortage, with type O supply down to 2.6 days, the Taiwan Blood Service Foundation said yesterday.

According to the latest figures from the foundation, as of 1pm yesterday, type A and type O red blood cell supplies across Taiwan have fallen to “critical shortage” levels. Type O blood reserves have dropped to just 2.6 days, while type A stands at 3.3 days — both below the safety threshold, it said.

Type B blood supplies are sufficient for about six days, while type AB stands at about 4.9 days, both considered relatively low, it said, adding that overall blood reserves are enough for about 3.7 days, underscoring continued strain on the blood supply.

Foundation head Wang Tsung-hsi （王宗曦） said that blood supplies often tighten ahead of weekends, as hospitals have already drawn heavily on reserves during the week while donation levels over the holiday period remain unpredictable.

As a result, Fridays are typically one of the most pressured points for blood bank inventories, she said.

The foundation uses a red-yellow-green alert system to indicate stock levels, she said, adding that when a particular blood type runs low, it issues public appeals through various channels to encourage donations.

According to Wang, this year’s World Blood Donor Day theme from the WHO highlights “regular, voluntary, and unpaid blood donation.”

In Taiwan, the medical blood supply has long depended on a steady base of regular donors, making consistent donations especially crucial, she said.

In addition to providing donation information through its platform on the Line messaging app, the foundation also sends text message reminders to eligible donors, she said.

The foundation has secured a dedicated SMS short code, 61420, from the Ministry of Digital Affairs to serve as an official identifier, helping the public distinguish legitimate messages from potential scams, she said.

Messages sent from 61420 would be limited to three situations — blood donation invitations, urgent requests for specific blood types and reminders when donors are eligible to donate, she said.

Lin Min-chang （林敏昌）, director of the foundation’s Taipei Blood Center, said the recent unstable weather, marked by sharp temperature swings and frequent heavy rain, has clearly dampened public willingness to donate blood.

Taiwan needs more than 6,000 units of blood each day for medical use, with Taipei alone accounting for more than 2,200 units, he said,

When donations fall, blood bank supplies are quickly drawn down, he said, urging eligible members of the public to come forward and donate blood to help ensure a stable medical supply.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES