National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion strengthens blood supply for Can Tho and the Southwest region

Reporting to the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management ( Ministry of Health ) about the shortage of blood at Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital for patient treatment and emergency care, the Can Tho City Department of Health said that it had worked with Can Tho Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital on June 5, requesting the hospital to report on the progress of procurement packages at the hospital. The hospital also reported the data on blood bags and accompanying chemicals needed for use in 1 month; the actual inventory of chemicals at the hospital and the expected demand for the amount of blood and platelets needed to supply hospitals in the area for 1 month.

Blood products are prepared to be packaged and shipped to Can Tho City.

Currently, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Cho Ray Hospital, and Ho Chi Minh City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital have agreed to support the supply of blood and blood products to Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital for the next 3 months.

In addition, the Department of Health requested the Hospital to urgently implement short-term and long-term solutions such as coordinating with Blood Transfusion Centers to receive and coordinate blood and blood products for hospitals within the scope of blood supply of Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital. Continue to quickly deploy bidding packages according to regulations; carry out additional procurement of chemicals and supplies (to receive emergency platelets and rare blood types, etc.)

According to Dr. Nguyen Xuan Viet, Director of Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital, the third largest blood transfusion center in the country, the support from hospitals in recent times has been extremely valuable. However, compared to the monthly demand of 12,000 - 15,000 units of blood, it has only met more than 60% of the emergency and treatment needs of hospitals in the Mekong Delta.

Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital receives blood boxes transported by air from Hanoi

This common difficulty has affected 74 hospitals in 11 provinces in the Mekong Delta. Dr. Bui Quoc Nam, Director of the Department of Health of Bac Lieu province, shared: “On average, hospitals in Bac Lieu province need 800 - 1,000 units of blood per month. However, in the past half month, the blood supply has been interrupted, and there may be a serious shortage if it is not provided promptly by the Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital.”

According to information from the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, from March 2023 to June 6, the Institute and the Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion Hospital and the Cho Ray Hospital Blood Transfusion Center have actively coordinated and supported the provision of 20,205 units of red blood cells to the Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital. Of which, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion alone has provided nearly 11,500 units of blood; in the past 2 weeks, 1,600 units of blood have been provided each week.

“Implementing the direction of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management, “According to the official dispatch dated June 3, in June and the following months, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, together with the Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, and Hue Central Hospital, commit to continue to maintain the supply of certain blood products to the Can Tho City Blood Transfusion Hospital. We also increase the blood receiving schedules to be able to increase the blood source in the Northern and Southern provinces, thereby supporting the Southwest region. This is to partly support the hospital in the face of difficulties in bidding for the purchase of blood bags, chemicals, and medical supplies for receiving, screening, and providing blood products,” said Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh, Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

BSCKII. Bui Quoc Nam, Director of Bac Lieu Provincial Department of Health participated in blood donation on June 5, 2023

The National Blood Center, the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion also coordinated with the Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital, and the Steering Committee for Blood Donation Mobilization of provinces/cities in the Mekong Delta region to develop a plan to receive blood, transfer a part of the Institute's supplies, chemicals, and blood bags from Hanoi to Can Tho to ensure the maintenance of blood donation and effectively organize the Red Journey 2023 program in this area.

On the opening day of the 11th Red Journey national blood donation program in Bac Lieu province, the Organizing Committee received 1,000 units of blood. All blood bags and supplies for blood collection were transferred from Hanoi by the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. The Institute also sent staff to coordinate with the Can Tho City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital in blood collection. After that, this amount of blood was transferred to Hanoi for the Institute to conduct screening tests, prepare safe blood products and supply back to the Southwest region.

The transportation of the above 1,000 units of blood (equivalent to more than 800kg of goods) was ensured to be safe, of high quality, and in accordance with regulations thanks to the active support, free transportation costs, and the earliest transportation facilitation of Vietnam Airlines Corporation, Vietnam Airlines Corporation branch in Can Tho, and Can Tho International Airport. It is expected that the units will continue to support and facilitate transportation in the coming time with the amount of blood received from the Red Journey in the Southwest region.

Q.FLOWER

Source