BANGKOK, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Thai National Blood Center managed by the Thai Red Cross Society on Wednesday appealed via the media for blood donations from members of the public as blood reserves are running low and falling short of demand.
Professor Dr Chaivech Nutprayoon, assistant secretary-general of the Thai Red Cross Society and acting director of the National Blood Center, said that since the beginning of October, blood reserves have dropped due to the decreasing number of donors, and meanwhile demand for blood from hospitals across the country have increased.
Usually the National Blood Center receives 2,000-2,500 units of blood a day, but since the beginning of October, the amount has fallen to an average of 1,500-1,700 units per day, said Chaivech.
The blood shortage is now affecting patients in several hospitals to the extent that, in some cases, doctors have had to postpone surgery due to the inadequate supply of blood, and children suffering from thalassemia and haemophilia need regular blood transfusions to survive, said Chaivech.
"There are 160 hospitals nationwide which call on blood supplies from the National Blood Center at an average rate of 2,600-3,000 units a day. However, we can only meet 60 percent of that demand."
