With the collaboration of public and private institutions and social organizations, the National Hemocenter announced it has increased the number of permanent blood donors in the institution’s database to 8,000. The Hemocenter had opened in November 2021 with only 170 voluntary and permanent donors.
Dr. Pedro Sing, director of the blood bank, says the new capacity enables the center to respond to the demand for emergency situations.
The registry still lags well behind the demand. Dr. Sing explains that In the Dominican Republic the blood deficit is at least 300,000 units per year. The collaboration of the citizens and the whole society is essential to solve this problem that many times can lead to death, he says.
Pedro Sing recalled that in 2021, 110,252 bags of blood were delivered to public network centers and private clinics. Forty-six percent were delivered by the Dominican Red Cross, 36% by private blood banks and 21% by the National Hemocenter.
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Diario Libre
13 July 2022