Mekong Delta hospitals struggle blood shortage
Up to 74 hospitals in the Mekong Delta region have faced a serious blood shortage over the past eight months.
Tran Van Hop from Can Tho City’s Thot Not District was taken to Can Tho Central General Hospital on October 23 for kidney failure treatment. But so far he has not yet received a blood transfusion because the hospital has run out of blood reserves. Hop was then prescribed medicines to help increase his red blood cells at a cost of nearly VND300,000 per dose instead.
“Waiting for the blood transfusion costs me more and my family is facing financial difficulties,” Hop said.
Huynh Van Loc from Soc Trang Province has been staying at Can Tho Central General Hospital for one week, but is still waiting for a blood transfusion.
According to Doctor Ngo Huynh Quang from Soc Trang Paediatric Hospital, a woman was hospitalised due to postpartum hemorrhage with alarming symptoms, but the hospital lacked blood for the treatment. The hospital had to urgently contact Can Tho Paediatric Hospital for support.
Soc Trang Paediatric Hospital needs around 800-1,000 units of blood per month, but the hospital has received just 200 units per month. This blood is used for patients in critical conditions. Therefore, in many cases, the hospital has to seek help from other hospitals.
By October 17, the hospital’s blood reserves had run low and they were only able to treat a few patients. So far this year, it has ensured 50-60 percent of the blood demand for emergency cases. Many surgeries had to be suspended because of the blood shortage.
Can Tho Central General Hospital has been left in the same situation. Doctor Le Hoang Phuc from the hospital said that the blood supply to the hospital has dropped by half over the past six months from a total of around 6,000-7,000 units per month. The hospital contacted Cho Ray Hospital and Kien Giang General Hospital for help. However, over the past two weeks, Cho Ray Hospital has also lacked blood products. So, the hospital has sought assistance from the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion.
Co Tho Haematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital specialises in providing blood and blood products to 74 hospitals in the Mekong Delta region. But it has also run out of chemicals and medical supplies for blood screening and testing, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
According to the Director of the Can Tho Haematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital, the cause of the blood shortage is difficulties in procurement, purchasing supplies, screening reagents, and blood testing.
The Ministry of Health has instructed the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion to co-operate with several hospitals to assist the blood supply for hospitals in the Mekong Delta region.
Can Tho Haematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital have been asked to rapidly take measures to deal with the blood shortage.
Tran Van Hop from Can Tho City’s Thot Not District was taken to Can Tho Central General Hospital on October 23 for kidney failure treatment. But so far he has not yet received a blood transfusion because the hospital has run out of blood reserves. Hop was then prescribed medicines to help increase his red blood cells at a cost of nearly VND300,000 per dose instead.
“Waiting for the blood transfusion costs me more and my family is facing financial difficulties,” Hop said.
Huynh Van Loc from Soc Trang Province has been staying at Can Tho Central General Hospital for one week, but is still waiting for a blood transfusion.
According to Doctor Ngo Huynh Quang from Soc Trang Paediatric Hospital, a woman was hospitalised due to postpartum hemorrhage with alarming symptoms, but the hospital lacked blood for the treatment. The hospital had to urgently contact Can Tho Paediatric Hospital for support.
Soc Trang Paediatric Hospital needs around 800-1,000 units of blood per month, but the hospital has received just 200 units per month. This blood is used for patients in critical conditions. Therefore, in many cases, the hospital has to seek help from other hospitals.
By October 17, the hospital’s blood reserves had run low and they were only able to treat a few patients. So far this year, it has ensured 50-60 percent of the blood demand for emergency cases. Many surgeries had to be suspended because of the blood shortage.
Can Tho Central General Hospital has been left in the same situation. Doctor Le Hoang Phuc from the hospital said that the blood supply to the hospital has dropped by half over the past six months from a total of around 6,000-7,000 units per month. The hospital contacted Cho Ray Hospital and Kien Giang General Hospital for help. However, over the past two weeks, Cho Ray Hospital has also lacked blood products. So, the hospital has sought assistance from the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion.
Co Tho Haematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital specialises in providing blood and blood products to 74 hospitals in the Mekong Delta region. But it has also run out of chemicals and medical supplies for blood screening and testing, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
According to the Director of the Can Tho Haematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital, the cause of the blood shortage is difficulties in procurement, purchasing supplies, screening reagents, and blood testing.
The Ministry of Health has instructed the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion to co-operate with several hospitals to assist the blood supply for hospitals in the Mekong Delta region.
Can Tho Haematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital have been asked to rapidly take measures to deal with the blood shortage.
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