Blood reserves low due to shortage of collection bags

By Nimal Gunathilake

All Ceylon Nurses’ Union (ACNU) President Ravindra Kahandawaarachchi has said that the reserves in all provincial blood banks have dropped due to shortage of bags used for storing blood.Kahandawaarachchi said that there was no shortage of blood donors.

“However, we don’t have bags. Due to this we can’t hold mobile blood donation campaigns. At times, we can’t even hold the blood donated by the public. Now, health staff are compelled to economise, but this is dangerous. There can always be human error and the consequences can be devastating,” he said.

National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), NBTS Director Dr. Lakshman Edirisinghe said that blood collection bags were imported and there had been a shortage since 2022. He added that Sri Lankans needed between 1,200 and 1,400 blood bags a day.