Hospital continues to call for blood donations
>> 'Red Sunday' campaign expected to collect 35,000 units of blood
Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Bach Quoc Khanh, has cleared up confusion over blood transfusion charges and continued to call for blood donations.
"The donors are mostly students. I hope more blood donation programmes will be held throughout the year and in various hospitals so that more people can participate," he said. "The donors should also be respected as customers. If one person donates blood once every year then the shortage of blood can be dealt with."
Health insurance pays VND700,000 (USD31) and patients have to pay from VND450,000 to VND810,000 for a bag of blood even though they are donated. And the price was already subsidised.
Khanh went on to say that there are many additional fees to bring blood to the patients such as equipment to collect and store the blood, and fees for tests for HIV and other diseases. A bag of blood costs at least VND2m (USD88). Poor people and children under six are given blood free of charge.
"In the coming time, we'll make a video clip to show how the blood is collected and transferred to patients and the costs," he said.
Last year, over 1.4 million blood units were donated in Vietnam but it was not enough. The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion estimated that it will need 60,000 units, including around 30,000 blood units type O, from now to March. However, it is set to receive only 50,000 units.
The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion is working with Hanoi Red Cross Organisation to set up at least two fixed sites for blood donation. The Red Sunday programme and other similar campaigns have helped to raise public awareness and encouraged more people to donate blood.
The campaign, which is jointly held by the Tien Phong newspaper, the National Committee for Traffic Safety, and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, has taken place from mid-December 2017 until the end of January 2018.
Le Xuan Son, editor-in-chief of Tien Phong newspaper told the meeting that this year's 'Red Sunday' blood donation campaign with the participation of 31 provinces and cities nationwide is anticipated to collect an estimated 35,000 units of blood to solve the blood shortage during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.
"The main activities of the campaign will take place at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology and other cities on January 21," Son said.
The campaign was first held in 2009 and has been expanded in the past five years. It is expected to receive 35,000 units of blood this time.
Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Bach Quoc Khanh, speaks at the press briefing on the "Red Sunday' blood donation campaign held in Hanoi on January 17. Photo by Tienphong
"The donors are mostly students. I hope more blood donation programmes will be held throughout the year and in various hospitals so that more people can participate," he said. "The donors should also be respected as customers. If one person donates blood once every year then the shortage of blood can be dealt with."
Health insurance pays VND700,000 (USD31) and patients have to pay from VND450,000 to VND810,000 for a bag of blood even though they are donated. And the price was already subsidised.
Khanh went on to say that there are many additional fees to bring blood to the patients such as equipment to collect and store the blood, and fees for tests for HIV and other diseases. A bag of blood costs at least VND2m (USD88). Poor people and children under six are given blood free of charge.
"In the coming time, we'll make a video clip to show how the blood is collected and transferred to patients and the costs," he said.
Last year, over 1.4 million blood units were donated in Vietnam but it was not enough. The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion estimated that it will need 60,000 units, including around 30,000 blood units type O, from now to March. However, it is set to receive only 50,000 units.
The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion is working with Hanoi Red Cross Organisation to set up at least two fixed sites for blood donation. The Red Sunday programme and other similar campaigns have helped to raise public awareness and encouraged more people to donate blood.
The campaign, which is jointly held by the Tien Phong newspaper, the National Committee for Traffic Safety, and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, has taken place from mid-December 2017 until the end of January 2018.
Le Xuan Son, editor-in-chief of Tien Phong newspaper told the meeting that this year's 'Red Sunday' blood donation campaign with the participation of 31 provinces and cities nationwide is anticipated to collect an estimated 35,000 units of blood to solve the blood shortage during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.
"The main activities of the campaign will take place at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology and other cities on January 21," Son said.
The campaign was first held in 2009 and has been expanded in the past five years. It is expected to receive 35,000 units of blood this time.
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