Peru Faces Critical Blood Shortage as Voluntary Donations Lag

A critical shortage of voluntary blood donors persists in Peru, with only two out of every ten blood units collected nationwide coming from individuals who donate freely. The majority of blood supply relies on replacement donations, where family or friends of patients are called upon to donate for immediate needs.

This alarming statistic was highlighted by the Ministry of Health (Minsa) during an event at the National Institute of Child Health (INSN) in Breña, coinciding with World Blood Donor Day. The low rate of voluntary donations poses a significant risk to patients requiring transfusions for surgeries, accidents, or cancer treatments.

Specialized hospitals like INSN Breña, which performs around 500 blood compatibility tests monthly for pediatric patients and uses 60 to 80 platelet apheresis fractions for children with cancer or hematological diseases, are particularly affected. Dr. Mirtha Durán, who leads the donation campaign at INSN Breña, emphasized that a consistent flow of voluntary donors is essential for ensuring continuous patient care.

To address this, health authorities are intensifying efforts to promote voluntary blood donation. They are reminding the public that individuals aged 18 to 60 (or up to 65 for regular donors), weighing over 50 kilograms, and in good health are eligible to donate. Campaigns are being organized in Lima to encourage greater citizen participation in this life-saving act.

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Counting on a constant flow of donors allows us to ensure the care of patients who depend on transfusions to continue their treatments.