Many hospitals in the West are running out of blood to treat patients due to a lack of blood bags. The Ministry of Health has proposed disciplinary action for "those who do not fulfill their bidding responsibilities."
On the afternoon of October 31, a leader of Can Tho Central General Hospital said that on average, the hospital needs 5,000-6,000 units of blood each month, including 2,000-3,000 units of platelets, mainly supplied from Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital. However, in the past few months, this unit has only been able to supply about 25% of the demand, with priority given to cases requiring emergency blood transfusions.
In the past few weeks, the blood supply has almost stopped. In this situation, the hospital has had to scramble to "ask for blood sharing" from Cho Ray Hospital, the Central Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital and Kien Giang province. However, this blood source is not always available, so the blood shortage is very tense.
"Luckily, this morning we were able to get 200 units of blood for emergency care, partly to treat patients who have been waiting for many days. However, this amount of blood can only temporarily meet the need for about 3-5 days," said the hospital leader.
Mr. Bui Duc Van, Director of Ca Mau General Hospital, said that the current blood supply at the hospital can only meet 30-50% of treatment needs. Therefore, chronic, non-urgent patients "slow down" to wait for blood, and severe cases are transferred to a higher level.
"Currently, the amount of blood available can only be used for a maximum of 30 days, some types can only be used for 5 days, so it is not possible to store a large amount," said Mr. Van.
Other hospitals in the area have been in a similar situation since September.
This is the second time this year that the Mekong Delta has suffered from a widespread blood shortage. In June, 74 hospitals in 11 provinces in the Mekong Delta were short of blood because the Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital - the blood supplier - lacked blood bags due to difficulties in bidding for supplies. Meanwhile, this unit has to provide 12,000-15,000 units of blood and 300-400 units of platelet kits to 74 hospitals each month.
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Viet, Director of Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital, affirmed that if there were enough chemicals and supplies such as blood bags and blood screening reagents to serve the work of receiving blood from humanitarian donations, the Western region would not have the current shortage.
According to Mr. Viet, the hospital has been trying to maintain blood supply to the provinces thanks to support from major hematology hospitals. At the same time, the hospital has implemented a "fire-fighting" solution of purchasing supplies in small packages, according to the authority of the unit, with a value of less than 100 or 500 million VND.
However, these supplies only temporarily meet the hospital's emergency and treatment needs for blood diseases. At times, the blood supply was down to only 5 to less than 100 units, so blood deliveries to hospitals had to be temporarily stopped from September 5 and only distributed in emergency cases.
The blood bank at Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital is empty. Photo: An Binh
Disciplinary recommendation
Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital opened 10 bidding packages with 394 items, worth about 150 billion VND. The reason for the delay in procurement is said to be due to a change in regulations, switching from centralized bidding at the Department of Health to the hospital, from the end of 2022. To implement, the hospital must develop a plan, submit it to the Department of Health and Can Tho People's Committee for approval. However, the regulations, processes, and procedures have changed, have to be redone many times, take a lot of time, so up to now, the bidding has not been launched.
According to the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, in the past, the Ministry of Health has coordinated nearly 65,000 units of blood from Cho Ray Hospital, Central Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital... to support Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital to supply the area. However, as of October 30, the procurement of supplies, blood bags, and blood screening reagents of Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital was still not enough to receive and supply blood. This is the main reason why this area is experiencing a blood shortage again.
"If the blood shortage continues in the locality, it is necessary to consider disciplinary measures for those who do not fulfill their responsibilities in purchasing enough supplies, blood bags, and biological products," said the leader of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management on the afternoon of October 31, and at the same time requested the Can Tho Department of Health and Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital to seriously learn from the experience of not ensuring blood supply, affecting medical examination and treatment activities and the overall reputation of the industry.
These two units are also required to urgently report to the City People's Committee to organize bidding, purchase materials, chemicals, biological products, and blood bags in full, and report the results and progress of the purchase to the Ministry of Health. In case the purchase is still not successful, the Department of Health must find ways to mobilize resources to have materials to serve the blood supply work.
The Ministry of Health assessed this as an "urgent situation", directing the National Blood Center, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and blood transfusion centers to support Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital in the next 2-4 weeks.
A patient at Ca Mau General Hospital waits because there is no blood for transfusion. Photo: An Minh
Mr. Cao Hoang Anh, Deputy Director of Can Tho Department of Health, said that a working group has been established to support Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital in implementing the plan to select contractors to purchase supplies, chemicals, and medical equipment in 2023-2024.
On October 18, the People's Committee of Can Tho City issued a decision approving the contractor selection plan for the remaining 47 items of this hospital. The unit is preparing bidding documents and implementing the next steps. It is expected that in the fourth quarter of this year, the hospital will complete the procurement of equipment and supplies.
"The hospital is focusing on completing 3 blood screening packages including blood bags and blood testing reagents... at the earliest, it will take 2-3 months to complete and receive the goods from the winning bidder," said the director of Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital.
An Binh - An Minh - Le Nga
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