MPs call for urgent measures to address blood shortages in Cyprus

Blood shortages are causing delays in transfusions for patients with thalassaemia, reduced transfusions and postponed surgical procedures, prompting MPs and patient representatives to call for urgent action.

The issue was raised during a meeting of the House Health Committee, where participants called for comprehensive planning, more staff at the Blood Centre and measures to encourage voluntary blood donation.

Discussions covered the National Strategy for Thalassaemia and Other Haemoglobinopathies, the availability of blood for transfusions and possible incentives for volunteer donors.

Speakers agreed that immediate measures and long-term planning are needed to ensure adequate blood supplies and uninterrupted access to essential transfusions.

MPs call for more staff and donor incentives

DISY MP Prodromos Alambritis called for specific measures to strengthen blood donation, saying concerns among thalassaemia patients over delayed transfusions should serve as a serious warning to the state.

He described adequate blood supplies as a public health issue and said patients must have uninterrupted access to the transfusions they need.

Alambritis praised Blood Centre staff and volunteer donors, noting Cyprus’ strong performance in voluntary blood donation relative to its population.

His proposals included providing the Blood Centre with sufficient staff, organising targeted awareness campaigns and introducing systematic information programmes in schools. He also suggested considering honorary leave for soldiers who donate blood.

He expressed concern that a request to increase Blood Centre staffing had been rejected by the Finance Ministry, despite being submitted through the Health Ministry.

Alambritis said he intended to contact the relevant ministries and submit a bill proposing half-day or full-day leave for volunteer blood donors, particularly in the public and wider public sectors.

He also called on private businesses to be informed about the need to facilitate blood donation by their employees.

AKEL seeks comprehensive plan based on actual needs

AKEL MP Constantinos Constantinou stressed the need to investigate the causes of blood shortages, despite Cyprus’s established tradition of voluntary blood donation.

He praised volunteer donors for their life-saving contribution but questioned how serious shortages could occur in a country he said ranked among the international leaders in voluntary blood donation.

Constantinou said the shortages were resulting in delayed or reduced transfusions for thalassaemia patients, as well as postponed operations, making urgent action necessary.

He said AKEL had requested detailed data covering the entire blood donation system and called for a comprehensive capacity plan based on the population’s actual needs.

He also highlighted the importance of long-term planning and targeted campaigns to attract new donors.

Referring to the rejection of requests for additional Blood Centre staff by the Finance Ministry, Constantinou said healthcare issues should not be treated purely as accounting matters.

“Blood donation is an act of solidarity,” he said, adding that ensuring every patient has the blood they need is the responsibility of the state.

ELAM calls for a national strategy to attract young donors

ELAM MP Andreas Charalambous also called for organised planning and sustained efforts to strengthen voluntary blood donation.

He said demand for blood was increasing. In Cyprus, the long-standing needs of thalassaemia patients were being compounded by the opening of new hospitals and the introduction of new types of surgical procedures.

Charalambous called for a national strategy with particular emphasis on thalassaemia, alongside measures to encourage voluntary donations, especially among young people.

He proposed expanding awareness initiatives in secondary schools, universities and military camps to establish blood donation as a habit among younger generations and increase participation.

ALMA proposes mobile blood collection units

ALMA MP Litsa Drousiotou said the committee had discussed shortages of blood units and the closure of donation centres in the Famagusta, Larnaca and Paphos districts due to staff shortages.

ALMA proposed creating mobile blood collection units to address gaps in coverage and make it easier to attract donors.

Drousiotou also expressed disappointment over the Finance Ministry’s rejection of requests to recruit additional staff.

She said comprehensive planning, effective coordination between services and the full implementation of the National Strategy approved in 2022 were necessary.

She also raised concerns about newborn screening for rare diseases and nursing staff shortages, calling for timely intervention and planning to meet the healthcare system’s needs.

Thalassaemia patients appeal for immediate action

Miltos Miltiadous, president of both the Cyprus Federation of Patients’ Associations and the Pancyprian Thalassaemia Association, conveyed patients’ concerns over blood shortages and delayed transfusions to the committee.

He described the situation as a “cry of anguish” from patients and urged the state to act immediately.

Miltiadous said information from thalassaemia clinics had been presented during the meeting. He called for cooperation between the relevant bodies and organisations to meet current blood requirements.

The immediate priority, he explained, was to address shortages during the current period while the state’s plans under the National Blood Donation Strategy take effect.

He renewed his appeal to voluntary blood donors to support the effort, while acknowledging the pressure they face.

Miltiadous also expressed hope that the House Health Committee would monitor the issue and the relevant data systematically, ensuring a clear picture of demand and allowing the necessary solutions to be introduced in time.

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