In light of National Blood Donor Day, which is observed today, Alberto Mota made a public appeal for more individuals to become regular blood donors while also addressing requests to health authorities.
“It is very important for people to become regular donors, which means men donate every three months and women every four months (…). More healthcare professionals are needed to conduct the collections,” stated the president of FEPODABES.
Highlighting the occurrence of “cancellations due to staff shortages,” Mota suggested that expanding the operation of Local Health Units (ULS) could be a viable solution.
“There are ULS that can effectively support the IPST [Instituto Português do Sangue e da Transplantação] in conducting external blood collections,” he remarked.
To ensure that Portugal maintains a national reserve “always at satisfactory levels,” Mota emphasized the importance of the government transforming plans into actions, appreciating volunteers from associations, blood donor groups, and better regulating the Donor Statute.
In addition to requiring more healthcare workers in Blood and Transplantation Centers in Porto, Coimbra, and Lisbon, FEPODABES calls on the government to explore the possibility of opening more blood collection centers to “reach all healthy individuals eligible for donation.”
“This appreciation should include the establishment of a Blood Advisory Council where blood donors and their associations, through the federation, participate in discussions and information sharing regarding blood donation,” Alberto Mota asserted.
This year’s theme for National Blood Donor Day is “The Importance of Diversity in Blood Donation.”
FEPODABES underlines “the crucial role of blood donors who have consistently helped meet the daily need of 1,000 to 1,100 blood units.”
“Currently, we have a very stable reserve of around 10,000 blood units stored, but we cannot rest. We must continue urging, urging, always urging,” concluded the president of FEPODABES.
The Instituto Português de Oncologia (IPO) in Porto echoes this appeal, requesting regular donations and highlighting the need for frequent platelet donations.
The demand for platelets is notably high in oncology hospitals, where patients with hematological conditions such as leukemia or lymphoma require significant amounts to address hemorrhages, coagulation, or low platelet counts.
“Loyalty of donors to IPO Porto through regular collections ensures a stock of components adequate for the needs of our patients. The transfusion of blood components is indispensable in treating oncology patients (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, bone marrow transplant) and ensures the safe conduct of major oncological surgeries,” explained Maria Rosales, director of the Immunotherapy Service at IPO Porto.
In 2024, IPO Porto recorded 8,799 donations, 126 fewer than the previous year. Among these, 1,889 were platelet component donations by apheresis, and 6,910 were whole blood donations.
Over 1,808 donors made two or more donations at IPO Porto that year. Additionally, 1,363 individuals made their first donation at the institution, with 678 being first-time donors.
In 2024, more than 2,634 patients were transfused, accounting for 7,179 erythrocyte transfusions and 4,708 platelet transfusions.
National Blood Donor Day aims to raise public awareness about the social and humanitarian value of blood donation, encouraging its practice and highlighting its critical necessity.
A blood donation can help save several lives and typically takes only 30 minutes.
Eligibility for blood donation requires individuals to be in good health, maintain healthy lifestyle habits, weigh at least 50 kilograms, and be between 18 and 65 years old, with the age limit for a first donation set at 60.
