The stocks of blood products at the National Blood Transfusion Center (NBCTS) are currently sufficient to cover all the requests from medical institutions in Moldova. But we should not relax, as even one day without donations can generate shortages.

"It is an activity that has a continuous flow, we do not have the right to make interruptions in order to be able to cope with all medical situations," emphasized CNTS director Silvia Rosca, asked by IPN.

Between 300 and 350 transfusions of blood products take place every day. On average 350-400 blood donors a day are needed to maintain a sufficient supply of blood products at all times.

Because not all donors make it to the national blood transfusion center, the center's mobile teams go to them. Blood drives are organized in different organizations and institutions in the capital and other localities.

Following the collection campaign that took place during the month of March in medical institutions, stocks of blood products were slightly up. The pace must be maintained.

The annual need is about 75 thousand donations. There are usually fewer donations on and after holidays and during vacation periods. This is why collection campaigns are welcome, where traditionally there is an increase in stocks, which make up the shortfall at other times.

The Republican Clinical Hospital, the Oncological Institute, the Institute of Emergency Medicine, the Institute of Mother and Child, the Municipal Clinical Hospital "Holy Trinity" are institutions with increased consumption of blood products.

Silvia Rosca mentioned that the population is quite receptive and there are currently 195 permanent voluntary donors.

A permanent voluntary blood donor is a person who has donated blood at least four times a year or plasma at least 20 times a year, or has donated blood in relation to five plasma donations five years in a row.

People who want to donate blood can learn about the eligibility criteria, as well as collection points, by visiting the National Blood Transfusion Center page.

The director of the CNTS advises people to eat well before the donation procedure and not to eat spicy or fatty foods. Drinking alcohol and smoking before the procedure is forbidden.

Each person who has donated blood receives a certificate with the donation code, which can be presented at work. They are additionally granted two days off with pay on the day they donated and the day immediately following donation. In addition, each donor receives a set of food products to make up for the calories lost during the collection.

For permanent voluntary donors of blood and/or blood components, there are also social guarantees stipulated in the legislation. 

A collection campaign among students, including students from the Nicolae Testemitanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, will be launched in April, as well as other actions aimed at ensuring stocks in the run-up to Easter.